kuju

So crazy that if I average 12k for each new chapter now (17 in total, ignore the 15) I could have a 200k word fic…

Chapter 1: Metanoia

Metanoia: to change one’s mind; to expand it in such a way as to have a new perspective on the world or one’s self.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

Leon Kennedy

Leon’s House

Rain hammered steadily against the left-side windowpanes, mixing with the quiet buzz of the barely functioning television positioned against the wall. The house itself wasn’t anything fancy, consisting of only two bedrooms and one bathroom, while the rest of the space was a continuation between the living room, dining area, and the kitchen. The outside was painted a light gray, the door and roof a darker, but chipping gave away the age of the place.

It sat just off the main road that led to the city that was an hour away if the weather was good, while taking just a twenty minute walk to make it into the town of Millbrook. There was no garage, just a simple metal carport that housed a car and a motorcycle that contrasted so intensely against the middle-class house that it earned stares from any passerby. There was a nearby patch of dark ground that seemed to once be a garden of sorts, but years of neglect led to the useful dying and the useless overgrowing.

The house made the small town of Millbrook look bustling in comparison. There were less than five thousand people living in it, with most people who passed through doing so to get from one city to another rather than for tourism. It had everything it needed from a simple town square with a fountain to a mall that hardly anyone ever went to but somehow managed to always have a full parking lot. Millbrook itself was located in a small valley, indented in the earth. The nearby cliffs overlooked a decently sized lake which was popular in the summer, and could be accessed safely from the main road.

This town was a lot different from the other places Leon Kennedy had lived during his time with the government. He was a city boy for the majority of his life, and experiencing the stark contrast after randomly choosing this town for his retirement was like a splash of cold water on his face. But Leon couldn’t live in the city anymore, they almost seemed to spell out danger, and he was tired of constantly worrying about what outbreak would happen next. Even if the remnants of the Umbrella Corporation and every other bioterrorist group had been destroyed for two years now.

Leon wasn’t used to people knowing who he was. In a city you hardly ever meet the same person twice, but he learned quickly it was very different in Millbrook. He shopped twice at the local supermarket when he first moved in and somehow the teenage cashier already knew his face, while the family that owned the farm which was the closest sign of human life to Leon’s house stopped to talk to him if he passed their fields while on his daily run, sometimes even giving him excess produce.

Now, two years later, Leon had come to like this town. Like was all he could muster after the decades spent in the force, always unable to save everyone. He couldn’t come up with the courage to love anyone anymore.

Without a job to do, Leon often found himself drifting through the day. His body appreciated the opportunity to rest, years of injuries and life or death situations weighing heavy in his bones. But the tiredness never left Leon. No matter how much sleep he got, how long he spent sitting on the couch watching terrible game shows, how many times he went to the shooting range on the other side of town… his mind never seemed to relax.

Sherry tried to tell him in her monthly call she managed to spare him—if Leon actually decided to pick up that is—that he needed to make friends. But he was fifty-one now, and the idea of making friends like in high school didn’t seem right. Leon knew now that he wasn’t normal enough for something like that. He probably owned at least three guns that were stashed in different places around his house, the old reports of every case he’d ever been on were still stashed in the guest room, and every time a broadcast came on about Raccoon City he had to turn the television off and sit in silence for thirty minutes, remembering all the people he failed.

And so he was often left sitting on the stiff couch he got on discount, sipping expensive bourbon out of a short round glass, tired blue eyes on the screen in front of him but unfocused. It was moments like these that proved he never really had his priorities straight when it came to buying things for the house. It was around eleven at night now, he reckoned, the rain having been hitting against his windows for about an hour. Leon hardly even knew why he was awake this late at night, especially with so little to do.

Apparently, there was just something about the lack of light, save for the warm lamp in the opposite corner of the room, and the sound of rain. It was probably the calmest Leon could ever feel.

That moment didn’t last long, such was his life, as it was interrupted by a sharp knock on his door. At first Leon convinced himself that it was the sound of the television, or the heaviness of the rain knocking something over, even his imagination was an option. But then a second knock came, followed by a third, and Leon was suddenly up on his feet and grabbing his handgun out of the safe that was hidden under the end table on the right side of the couch.

He loaded it easily, a practiced motion he knew by heart, before slowly stepping towards the door. He once thought playfully to get a peep hole in the door when he first got the house, and now Leon was suddenly wishing he’d followed up on that idea.

Nobody ever visited this late. Nobody even knew where he lived save for a handful of old contacts just in case. And even then, Leon would like to think they’d call ahead to avoid getting a gun put in their face.

He eased his ear up against the door, listening to the patter of the rain on the old wood, which creaked under the weight of whoever was on the other side of the door.

“Didn’t order any pizza.” Leon quipped, taking a slow breath. “Most people give at least some notice before showing up this late at night.”

No answer came, and so Leon eventually reached with his free hand and slowly unlocked the deadbolt. Once it was free, he turned the handle, gun positioned in front of him and ready to defend him from whatever could appear in the gap as the door was opened.

The flickering porch light illuminated the rain that poured in silver sheets, along with the silhouette standing there whose familiarity made Leon hesitate.

He had half expected Chris, maybe an impromptu visit from Sherry or even Claire, or at least someone from town who was in desperate need in the middle of the night.

Not dark hair shiny from the rain, sharp features he still sometimes saw in his dreams that would leave him empty in the morning.

“And most people don’t answer the door with a handgun.” A smooth voice came, the smirk heard even if not visible. “Hello, Leon. It’s nice to see you, too.”

Ada Wong.

Leon had to stare at her for a few seconds longer, wondering if he’d drank enough to conjure up this kind of unfair hallucination. Surely not, he’d consider himself much less of an alcoholic now that he’d retired, but he also knew quite a few people who’d disagree with that. But even then… no amount would justify what he was seeing.

Ada looked the same. Leon could see the red sweater dress peaking out from beneath the tan trench coat she was wearing, a staple to her look. It was longer now, coming closer to her knees, but the tall, heeled black boots were the same. Sure, he could see the years in her face, a few wrinkles around her eyes. But her black hair was cut in the same bob, maybe a few gray strands coming through, but otherwise she was… just like he remembered.

Leon noticed she lacked smile lines, playfully knowing that most women her age would be jealous. However, he knew well enough that it wasn’t due to some intense skin care routine, but instead the result of her hardly ever smiling.

“…It’s been fifteen years, Ada.” Leon said slowly, lowering his hand gun. His eyes darted down and took note of the single duffel bag hanging from her hand. It was suspicious, and he would normally start with basic questioning, but seeing her… threw Leon completely off.

Ada raised an eyebrow, as if the notion hardly meant anything to her. “I suppose it has been. Goes by in a flash depending on what you’re doing.” She responded easily, but strangely didn’t push to enter his house, even with her current state.

Her reply made Leon grimace quietly, hating that it was as if he was the odd one for thinking of her almost every day, wondering if she was dead or alive, while he seemed to have never crossed her mind once during all those years.

Leon eventually sighed, standing straight and lowering his gun completely. He ran his fingers through his hair, which was just a bit longer now, as he tried to decipher Ada. Why would she come here, especially after all this time? The bioterrorist groups and all the B.O.W.s were gone. If she had any business now, Leon had nothing to do with it.

But Leon never knew what Ada Wong was thinking, and he’d already accepted that he never would.

“…Come in before someone from town sees you.” Leon decided, stepping out of the doorway to make room for Ada to pass by him. He didn’t need any strange rumors following him around, especially when they spread like wildfires in a small town. “Besides, I’m not the kind of guy who would let someone stand out in the cold rain after coming all this way.” There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, but if it bothered Ada it didn’t show on her face.

“How kind of you.” Ada answered easily, wearing a calm expression as she stepped inside. Leon closed the door behind her, a slight creak to the hinges he needed to remember to fix later, before carelessly tossing his gun on the kitchen counter as he passed by it.

Ada Wong was in his house. Fifteen years had passed, fifteen years for Leon to come to terms with never hearing from let alone seeing her again, and now she was just… here.

The warm light from the lamp that stood in the corner by the dining table showed just how soaked Ada was. How did she even get here in the first place? He would’ve noticed if a car had pulled in, but there had been no sound, not a trace of anything. Knowing her, it would probably be another mystery Leon would never solve.

Ada slid off her trenchcoat, her brown eyes washing over her surroundings until she found a coat hanger by the door to hang it on. She acted like it was nothing strange for her to be here, duffel bag now resting by her feet, before her gaze leveled back on Leon, expectation set in her expression.

Leon rolled his shoulder, trying to get the tension out of his body, but it was much less physical as it was emotional. “You’re soaked. The, uh, bathroom is the second door on the right. There’s some towels in the bottom drawer of the vanity.” He directed, needing just a few seconds on his own to collect himself. Ada only responded with a nod, striding through the living room and towards the hallway.

“Hey, Ada?” Leon blurted out before he could think about it, his breath shuddering slightly as she turned over her shoulder to look at him. “Still drink?”

Ada huffed some laughter at that, amusement crossing over her face. For a moment, Leon thought he saw something pass beneath it at the same time, but he couldn’t quite make out what it was. “What do you think?” She answered before continuing down the hallway and into the bathroom.

Leon put a hand on the back of his neck as he watched her go, letting out a heavy sigh the moment he could hear the door shut. His eyes fluttered closed for a moment, the image of Ada standing outside his door appearing in his mind. Was it really a good idea to let her in?

Leon didn’t trust her. He’d learnt that the hard way, over and over again, that trust wasn’t something that should even be associated with Ada. She’d betrayed him, her colleagues, the people she worked for. So why was Leon letting her in when he knew better?

He could pretend to debate it all he wanted, that maybe he might’ve made a different choice. But Leon knew deep down he’d always let Ada in, no matter how long it had been.

Eyes opening after a few more seconds, he eventually moved towards the kitchen, grabbing another small round glass from a cabinet. The bourbon was still out from earlier, making it easy for Leon to pour a glass for Ada before refilling his one from earlier. God knows he’d need it.

The air was heavy on Leon’s body, the duffel bag on the floor by the door and the coat on the hanger a constant reminder that he was no longer alone inside of his house. He made his way to the couch, glasses in hand, which he placed on the coffee table in front of him as he sat down.

She’s still beautiful… The thought crossed his mind before he could stop it, causing Leon to give a light shake to his head. Now was not the time for… useless pining.

He hadn’t been keeping track of the time, but it felt as though it’d been forever before Ada emerged from the dark hallway. Her clothes were still a bit wet, but her hair had been meticulously dried. The light makeup she’d been wearing looked perfectly intact despite the water onslaught it faced earlier, accompanied by a fresh coat of lipgloss on Ada’s lips.

Ada’s boots clicked on the hardwood floors as she walked toward the couch and sat down next to Leon. There was still space between them, an absurd amount, which was maintained as Ada crossed one leg over the other and reached forward to grab her glass.

Her eyes slitted over to Leon as she took a slow slip, the pressure of it weighing on his body. But it was comfortable, something he’d gotten used to a long time ago before he could notice.

“Why are you here, Ada?” Leon asked, finally breaking the long stretch of silence between them. His mind desperately wanted to ask more questions, but he knew her well enough that Ada wasn’t exactly the question-answering type. Best to get the most important things out of her while he could.

She sat her glass back down on the coffee table, a small sigh escaping her lips. Her red sweater dress was tight on her body, a shade darker in places from the remaining water. Leon thought he should offer her a jacket or a change of clothes, something dry and more comfortable, but no longer had the chance to when Ada started talking.

“Do you remember when you asked me if I had changed all those years ago? You wanted to know if I was just using you again.” Ada inquired, before speaking again as if the look on Leon’s face told her everything she needed to know. “Well, I have an answer for you now. I have changed. And I’m not here to use you.” There was a firmness to her voice that made Leon want to believe her immediately, but such a claim was so absurd it was hard to.

Of course Leon remembered that moment perfectly. Moments like that didn’t fade, no matter how much time passed, especially when they were with her.

His gaze lowered briefly to the bourbon in front of him, the rain still a steady rhythm in the background. Leon leaned forward, forearms resting on his knees, eyes uncertain as they stared ahead.

“As far as I know, Ada Wong doesn’t do ‘change.’” Leon said, tilting his head to look at the woman beside him. “How can I possibly believe that things are different, fifteen years after I’ve last seen you? I didn’t even know if you were alive.” Heat was starting to rise in his voice, the wound still clearly raw, making Leon turn away and sigh in hopes of relaxing.

Ada’s eyes betrayed nothing, unrelenting as they gazed at Leon. Her words came easily to her, as if she’d rehearsed them for hours prior. “I thought about you. Especially after everything was over. I had no more excuses, not after the organizations that were hiring me were gone. So, I figured it was time to stop running.”

I thought about you.

Leon’s jaw shifted, his hands flexing, not knowing what to do with them. It just didn’t sound… right. It was everything Leon had wanted to hear back then, but now, he wasn’t as naive anymore. Or at least that’s what he liked to think. He reached forward, grabbing his glass, taking a long drink until the bourbon was practically gone. The burn down his throat woke him up, but it didn’t make his response any easier to build.

“Did you think about me?” Ada suddenly prompted, leaning back against the couch, her leg still crossed over the other.

Leon sat up a little, his throat tight, and not from the drink. A million thoughts ran through his mind, all ones he couldn’t say. Of course I thought about you. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Every time I saw the color red I missed you.

All too intense for right now. Something simpler but still honest would have to do.

“…That’s a dangerous question.” Leon finally answered, his blue gaze steady as they held hers. “But, yeah. I did.”

For an instance, he almost thought he saw a smile grace Ada’s lips, but as soon as he noticed it, it was gone.

The silence urged Leon to continue, his tone growing more sure the more he spoke. “You have a habit of showing up in the worst situations possible, burning everything down around you if it means getting what you want… and then disappearing before anyone figures out what the hell happened.”

This earned a raised eyebrow from Ada, her long fingers tapping on the arm rest of the couch as she listened. Leon really wished just this once he could know what she was thinking.

“But,” Leon added slowly, “somehow you still managed to stick around in my head just as long as the monsters did.” There was no flirtation behind it, that wasn’t what this moment was. But with this sudden opportunity for Leon to be honest, the words he’d held back for years were suddenly pouring out against his better judgment.

“After everything ended, I wondered if you were still out there causing problems…” Another beat passed before Leon added with a small smirk, “or, if you finally found something better to do than keeping tabs on a retired government agent.”

Ada smirked lightly at that, knowing it was a jab at how she’d shown up here in the first place. After all, Ada needed to not only know Leon lived here, in some little town called Millbrook on the East Coast of the U.S., but that there was no one else. No roommate, nor a girlfriend and certainly not a wife.

“You know me, Leon. I love keeping tabs.” Ada replied simply, as if that was an answer to everything Leon said.

Leon shook his head at that, a little smile on his face. He sat up fully and turned towards her, his eyes glancing over the back of the couch and spotting the bag Ada had left by the door. His attention turned back to her, his voice lowering as he spoke. “You said you stopped running. That’s new. You never were the type to settle down, it was always work first for you.”

Ada’s expression hardened at his words, and Leon wasn’t exactly sure what that meant. He searched her face for any kind of clue, trying to find that hint in her brown eyes, the way her eyebrows were relaxed, the nonexistent curve of her lips. But again, nothing.

“So, if you’re telling me that’s changed, then something pretty big must’ve happened.” Leon tilted his head slightly as he looked at her, a serious set to his jaw. “Because the last time I saw you, you were still giving me vague answers and never sticking around long enough for me to figure them out on my own.”

Some silence passed between them, words hanging in the air before Leon spoke them into existence. “What made you change, Ada?”

Back then, this was a question she wouldn’t have even thought about answering. She’d give him some excuse, or someone else would get in the way, pushing them further apart. If Ada really changed like she said she did, then Leon needed her to answer. And not with some bullshit rhetorical, but a real explanation.

He felt like he deserved it more than anyone.

Finally, Ada let out a breath he didn’t even realize she’d been holding, her gaze wandering off somewhere unclear.

“…I almost died.” Ada remarked, like it was some simple thing.

Leon stiffed slightly, opening his mouth after a few seconds, but no words came out. His mind played images of all the times they’d both almost died on missions, but for some reason the ones of Ada always hit harder.

“Obviously, I’ve had my fair share of near death run-ins. You remember one quite well, I figure.” Ada added, almost unfairly, as if Leon wouldn’t remember what happened back when they were together in Raccoon City. “But… this was different. It was slow. You weren’t there this time. No one was.”

That surprised Leon, because he never thought that something like that would bother Ada. Her job was dangerous, so was Leon’s, he understood the consequences just as much as she did. She was the one who told him to let her go, that saving her wasn’t worth it, as if Leon wouldn’t risk his life to pull her out of the void even after she betrayed his trust.

Ada shifted positions, pulling her legs underneath her, careful to hang her feet off the couch so as not to get any dirt from outside on it. A stray strand of black hair got brushed behind her ear by nimble fingers as Ada gathered the rest of her words, appearing less practiced and more… real.

“For a while I just sat there, thinking that everything I’d done up until now somehow led to me dying in an abandoned, underground bunker, where no one would know if I was dead or alive.” Ada paused then, facing toward him but eyes looking away. “How you wouldn’t know if I was dead or alive. You’d probably spend the rest of your life thinking I abandoned or forgot about you. And in that moment… I realized that wasn’t something I wanted.”

After that, Leon thought the next logical thing was for Ada to tell him she was going on another job. That this could be the final time he’d ever see her, but at least from now on he would know. He wouldn’t have to second guess anymore.

But as she continued to talk, Leon realized more and more that predicting Ada’s next move would probably never be something he’d be good at. It was easier for both of them if he stopped trying, but Leon knew that was easier said than done.

“Everything changed for me after Raccoon City.” Ada admitted slowly, like she hadn’t ever said it out loud before. “Doing those jobs was never the same. And now that it’s all gone… I figured it was time for me to retire. So I did. Came here. That’s all there is to it.” She recalled casually, while the sudden jump to different events made the story hard to follow in Leon’s mind.

Leon looked back towards Ada’s duffle bag, before it suddenly clicked. That wasn’t carrying some secret bio weapon or sample, but everything Ada owned. Her bank account was probably reaching numbers that most people could only dream of, and yet Ada only needed a regular sized bag to move from wherever she was previously staying to… here. Leon’s house in the small town of Millbrook.

Leon’s shoulders had straightened now, his eyes sharp with the kind of focus that kept him alive through countless operations. The room stayed silent except for the rain, the small remainders of their drinks long forgotten on the coffee table.

Hearing all this from someone else would have been plausible, but from Ada? It landed differently with him. Processing all the things she’d admitted was making Leon’s mind swirl, and for a moment he had to wonder if he really was dreaming after all. Could it really be true that Ada had… changed?

“…Y’know, I never pictured you going out like that.” Leon said, a slight smile on his face like that might ease everything. “You’re too stubborn.”

That made Ada roll her eyes in response, but there was a hint of fondness in it that Leon wanted to believe he didn’t make up.

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking at Ada as if she might disappear if he didn’t. “So you retired. That explains the bag, I guess.”

Ada looked tired, now that Leon had a long time to observe her. There was less confidence in her now, at least compared to how she had been before. Leon could tell she was trying to hide it, to continue giving that one-step-ahead appearance that had always been associated with her. But he could tell that eye contact was harder for her to hold now, that she fidgeted with her hands slightly in a way she never had before. Ada may have looked the same, same hair, same dress, same boots. However, to Leon, it was obvious now. She had changed.

“You could’ve just called instead of coming all the way here. I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard to get my phone number.” Leon pointed out, the corner of his mouth lifting in something that was reminiscent of a smile. “But, I’m glad you didn’t.”

Ada didn’t seem to know what to make of that. She clearly didn’t appreciate the way Leon had diminished what it took for her to come all the way here, seemingly on a whim, given how she decided not to answer to his statement verbally. Either way, she was still here, and she hadn’t gotten up yet. Even if it was clear this was a conversation that was hard for Ada to have, she showed no signs of leaving.

“So let me get this straight,” Leon started, “you nearly die, decide this isn’t the life you want anymore and retire. And the first place you come after all this time is my front door.”

He could see the annoyance starting to show in the way Ada’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and it brought a slight smile to Leon’s face. He missed this, talking to her, even if he just pissed her off half the time. There was something softer in Leon’s eyes now, and he could tell Ada noticed it by the way she stiffened, how her brown eyes darted away like the image itself was hurting her.

“…You planning on staying awhile, Ada?” Leon asked, the rain outside lessening up, like it would stop soon.

Ada blinked at him once, looking confused. “You don’t want me to leave?”

That made Leon laugh a little, raising an eyebrow in response. “Ada, if I wanted that you wouldn’t have made it through the door in the first place.”

“Cocky. You really think you could stop me from getting in if I really wanted to?” Ada replied immediately, but Leon could tell she wouldn’t have done that if he really asked her not to.

“I guess we’ll never know.”

The expression on Ada’s face had eased up some now, like this playful banter was easier for her to handle than the serious conversation they’d been having a moment prior.

“…I don’t know. How long do you feel like having me?” Ada finally answered Leon’s earlier question, and even he could tell she was holding some information back. Staying in Millbrook was one thing, staying in Leon’s house was another.

Leon lifted his hand and ran it through his hair, leaning forward to rest his elbows against his knees again. His eyes drifted over the room, taking note of the lack of pictures on the wall, old reports stashed in drawers and left on countertops that couldn’t fit nicely in the guest room. He’d told himself he liked it, the quiet that had settled into his life after the war with bioterrorism finally fizzled out. The fact that he no longer had to anticipate a phone call about another outbreak somewhere in the world was great, and he’d been content before with the silence it brought with it.

Leon had gotten used to being alone. Not particularly because it was what he wanted, but more so because it was what he’d gotten used to. Now, someone who was dead last on the list of ‘most likely to show up randomly to Leon’s house’ was sitting next to him on the couch with nothing but a bag and the wet clothes on her back after traveling in the rain.

For years, Ada had been someone who appeared in the middle of chaos—cities overrun with infected, dangerous situations that always ended up with her saving Leon’s ass. Ada Wong asking permission to stay was… new. She’d always been the opposite of that, appearing and disappearing when she wanted, leaving everyone else to catch up. She hadn’t ever been a part of anything… normal, at least from what Leon could gather.

Was she really going to stay this time?

Leon exhaled quietly, still hunched over, his gaze resting calmly on Ada. “Funny thing about that question… for about thirty-two years, I never had a say in whether you stayed or not. But this time you’re asking me.”

The lamp on the other side of the room lit half of his face in a warm light, the other shadowed by darkness. There was a quiet seriousness that had returned to Leon’s expression, but an acceptance lingering in his eyes. He wouldn’t get his hopes up. Whatever happened this time, Leon swore he wouldn’t get attached to her again.

It made his conscience feel a little better, even if deep down he knew the act of keeping that promise was a lot harder. Especially for him, and especially when it was about her.

“Ada… if you’re waiting for me to tell you to leave, you should know by now that’s not going to happen.” Leon said, shaking his head lightly as he remembered the one time he did.

Years ago, back when Ada asked if he was coming, and this time it was Leon saying that they had to go their separate ways. The way she responded, almost sounding… disappointed… it stayed with Leon in the form of regret. But back then, he had to prioritize saving Ashley. Now, things were different, and nothing was stopping them from just existing together.

Ada’s hands were tight, betraying the uncertainty about all of this. She had hardly ever gone into anything without knowing all the outcomes, but planning a mission was a lot easier than just… talking, at least to her.

Leon smiled a little in an attempt to reassure her. “But if you’re asking how long you’re allowed to stay…”

Leon shrugged slightly. “You could stay a week. Maybe a month. A year, but I’d probably use up the rest of my life’s luck by then.”

She huffed a laugh at his words, showing that they didn’t mean anything to her. Leon hoped that wasn’t true.

“That’s not exactly the question I’m asking.” Ada replied, eyes steady on Leon, this time not glancing away.

“Then let me phrase it this way,” Leon said, “you can stay as long as you want. It’s always been that way, hasn’t it? But I have a strange feeling that everything you need is in that one bag and you don’t have anywhere else to go. Pretty big leap for someone who doesn’t like staying in one place for long.”

“I don’t need a therapist, Leon.” Ada reminded him with a raised eyebrow, but the furrow of her brow made it obvious he’d hit the nail on the head.

“What I’m saying is, I don’t mind. I’ve spent majority of my adult life wondering where the hell you disappeared to. Even so, having you decide to stay in one place is probably the least stressful surprise I’ve ever had.” Leon admitted, eyes holding hers as he hunched over.

He suddenly felt a little embarrassed of his house now, though. Sure, Leon’s Porsche and motorcycle were still incredibly expensive, but he didn’t exactly splurge when it came to the house, in addition to not keeping it the cleanest. Sure, the guest bed had blankets and pillows, but most of his old reports were in there, sort of turning it more into a storage-office area.

“I guess I should’ve cleaned the place first.” Leon said, sighing as he rubbed the back of his neck and glanced around. “Didn’t exactly expect company.”

This earned another sound from Ada that almost classified as a laugh, her expression easing some as she looked at him. “You’re a retired D.S.O. Officer. This is honestly better than what I expected, even though it is… bland.”

Leon rolled his eyes at that, standing up and taking the two now empty glasses from the coffee table and walking them over to the sink. “I’m sorry it doesn’t meet your standards, Ms. Wong.”

He turned on the faucet and ran the glasses under the water for a few seconds, but was too lazy to actually wash them. It was too late for something like that, noticing it was almost midnight from glancing at the clock on the wall. Leon was suddenly glad he’d stayed up late this night, because he figured that things would’ve gone less smoothly if he’d been woken up by Ada. His better gun was in his room by his bed, after all, and with everything that happened the past thirty-two years Leon didn’t exactly wake up calm.

“I do have a guest room, if you were wondering.” Leon pointed out, turning around from the sink to face Ada, who was still on the couch looking over at him. “It is kind of messy… but it’s yours, if you want it.”

“I was fully prepared to sleep on the couch, if not here at all. I’ve experienced worse than a messy room.” Ada said, waving it off with her hand.

She stood from the couch and walked back to the front of the house to grab her bag, picking it up easily. Her brown eyes were fixed on Leon’s, as if they were waiting to see if he would say anything else. But Leon was tired, both from staying up this late and from the way the information Ada had given him completely flipped the reality he had once known.

Ada’s heeled boots clicked against the floor as she walked towards the hallway, the sway of her hips catching Leon’s gaze before he forcefully ripped it away. Now was not the time for this. She gave him a look over her shoulder which was bad for Leon’s heart, before raising her pointer finger and gesturing towards the two other doors, other than the one to bathroom, in the hallway.

“So, which one is it?”

“Oh, right.” Leon stammered, coming around from the kitchen counter and showing Ada to the first door on the right. “It’s this one. So, uh… let me know if you need anything.”

“Sure. Goodnight, Leon.” Ada said, and for some reason it felt strange to hear. He didn’t think she’d ever said something like that before, as if she would be here tomorrow morning.

Leon didn’t know if he believed it or not. If Ada was gone tomorrow… he wouldn’t be surprised. He’d hoped before, and it’d only left him feeling hurt, but just this once, maybe Leon could hope again.

“Goodnight, Ada.”

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Leon stared up at the bleak ceiling, darkness making it difficult to see anything at all. His body was tense, unable to relax, not with the knowledge that Ada was across the hall and on the other side of a door.

He had played it cool back there, at least what’s what he thought, but hearing that Ada had almost died again did something to him. Leon had always had a hard time letting people go. He wanted to save everyone, to be a cop on the force and do good. But Raccoon City happened, and people died, and Leon couldn’t do anything about it.

He couldn’t save the man with his infected daughter. Nor the officers that had wanted to welcome him with fun games and a sign. And not Ada, but she’d lived, survived that fall, and how she did that he didn’t know.

But now that Ada was here, Leon finally had some peace with it. She wasn’t dead, she was alive and in great shape despite the many injuries she’d undoubtedly suffered, and for some reason staying in his house for an unknown amount of time.

Just what was he going to tell the town? They’d see her eventually…

Either way, the blanket was soft on Leon’s skin, his one singular pillow supporting his neck in a way that was probably comfortable to only him. The room was warm and the rain had stopped, the bourbon and events of tonight making his eyes heavy.

Tomorrow, Leon would find out if Ada had truly meant what she said, but he knew deep down it would take longer for him to trust her.

For now, he’d take things one day at a time. Just like he had been for years.

Sleep came to him easily after fifteen minutes of thinking, well past the normal time he normally went to bed, but the alarm was set for six-thirty in the morning like always. Whatever happened tomorrow, Leon would find out soon.

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Ada Wong

Leon’s House

A streak of bright light broke through the slight gap between the gray curtains, shining on Ada’s face and rousing her from her sleep. The rest of the guest room was dim, the furniture an older style made out of wood that surprisingly matched, especially considering that it was a room Leon hardly used.

For a moment, she’d almost forgotten where she was. Then, last night's memories came back and… that’s right. Leon Kennedy. Ada was staying in Leon Kennedy’s house, for however long she wanted to.

Ada sat up slowly, sighing as she rolled her left shoulder, attempting to get the stiffness out of it. She had changed out of her wet clothes last night, thankfully, and put on one of the few sets of pajamas she brought with her. It was a matching one, red of course, made of silk with some lace detailing. The top was slightly cropped, with a deep v-cut that made it difficult not to at least glance at her breasts. The sleeves were long and reached past her hands, while the bottom was a pair of shorts that sat snug on her waist and were probably a bit too short to everyone but Ada.

She may be in her fifties now, but that wouldn’t stop her from dressing like how she always had.

As she blinked the sleepiness from her eyes, she took note of the numerous files that Leon had warned her about. When she first came into the room last night, there were even a few tossed on the bed, which she had moved to whatever open space was left on the desk and dresser. It was a mess, but surprisingly, it didn’t bother her much. The room was decently sized and she had everything she needed. Truthfully, it was better than how she had expected things to be.

Part of her thought Leon would be living in a pigsty, spending most of his time drinking. The other part of her thought he’d have a girlfriend at least, a wife and children at most. But Ada was smart, and she knew that’d never happen. Not while she was still alive, that is.

She could see it in Leon’s eyes when she opened the door to let her in last night. He never forgot about Ada.

She hadn’t realized how much of a relief that would be until now.

Ada swung her legs over the edge of the bed, raising her arms over her head to stretch before standing up. For some reason, she felt well rested despite waking up at—what did the clock on the night stand say—six-fifteen in the morning. Ada didn’t entertain the idea that it was because of where she was and who was on the other side of the hallway.

She brushed through her hair to tame it after sleeping but didn’t change out of her pajamas. She slipped some black slippers on that had soft faux fur around the edges before making the bed. How soon could new sheets be ordered for the bed, because these ones certainly weren’t up to her standards. Was Ada even allowed to make those kinds of changes?

If she wasn’t, Leon would have to say something soon before she truly took his words of the guest room being hers to heart.

Ada opened the door slowly, glancing about. It didn’t seem that Leon was awake yet, which didn’t bother her much. She left the door ajar, not caring enough to close it, before she smoothly padded to the kitchen.

Truthfully, she didn’t want to think about last night much. About her impromptu decision, about her… uncharacteristic actions and words. She was here, she’d retired, and promised she wasn’t using Leon anymore. That implied something, didn’t it? But the title and the word used to describe it were something Ada was still avoiding. She didn’t want any… labels. Neither of them were ready for that, she reckoned. Right now, she was content with just living in Leon’s house like it was the most normal thing in the world.

She opened the fridge to find a lot less food than she expected. Ada had pegged Leon to be the type of man who did meal prep and planning, and yet he barely had enough to make two different kinds of sandwiches. Whether it was because Leon was further than most from all the stores in town and didn’t want to drive or he just didn’t feel the need to buy that much food for one person, Ada wasn’t sure.

Ada continued snooping around the kitchen, opening various drawers and peaking inside without having any qualms about it. She didn’t exactly care if Leon felt like she was being a little too bold, especially given the fact that they had more or less agreed she’d be living here for awhile anyways. It was only natural for her to know where everything was, of course.

Even more so, Ada wondered if she could play a little game of ‘where does Leon keep his guns’ just to see if she could find them. She had her own, just one in her bag, obviously, so it wasn’t like Ada needed to know where they were. However, she liked reading Leon like an open book, and she found it entertaining to explore his mind. And his house, apparently.

Finally, she had located a large, decent pan and some cooking spray. Turning on the stove to an appropriate heat, Ada figured she’d make a simple breakfast of eggs and toast. It was about all she could do with the limited ingredients and her lack of cooking ability. She didn’t exactly have the most free time to practice these kinds of things before now, after all.

Ada had everything set up, the egg carton pulled from the fridge and sitting on the countertop by the stove, while the toaster was available nearby whenever she decided to make that toast. The house itself was silent except for her movements, morning light trickling in through the uncovered windows and illuminating the place enough to warrant not turning on the big lights.

As she waited for the stove to heat up, Ada looked around the area in this new light, taking everything in. The atmosphere was different now, lighter, than it was last night. Had it been the darkness and rain or the conversation, Ada wasn’t sure. It seemed nice enough, having everything a single man in his early fifties might need. But there were little to no decorations, the furniture Leon did have clearly didn’t have the same amount of money put into them as his car and bike, and it was overall just kind of… boring. The entire town was, from what Ada had been able to see from last night and her personal digging.

But it didn’t bother her as much when she remembered Leon’s face. He was older now, obviously, with creases near his eyes and stubble on his face. There was a rugged look to him that Ada hadn’t expected, and she certainly hadn’t expected to like it so much, either. Leon had even put on more muscle, which she didn’t think was possible, but the way his arms flexed at the slightest movement had distracted her more than she’d like to admit and the idea of him probably being able to bench press her did unfortunately cross her mind.

It wasn’t her fault, though. Ever since she’d retired, Ada had been losing her focus. It was almost like not constantly having your life threatened made living easier, but that was nonsense.

Shaking her head, Ada cracked a few eggs on the pan and waited for them to cook, making sure to have enough for her and Leon. She wouldn’t be surprised if the man didn’t even eat breakfast, but it sort of felt like something she should do just in case.

She wasn’t going to be a freeloader, after all.

Leon obviously still didn’t trust her, not completely, anyway. Ada couldn’t blame him, she knew what she did to him; every meeting, every word, every look. She knew exactly what she was doing, at least she pretended to. But she didn’t need to kiss Leon in the cable car back in Raccoon City, she knew that. So why she did, she had no clue, and it wasn’t something Ada wanted to discuss. That was the least of her problems though, considering the fact that they shared that one night together years ago. She’d dug her own grave, lapse of judgment and mistake over and over again, until Ada couldn’t stop herself from saving Leon and still leaving at the end to maintain some control.

Did Leon still think about that night? How desperately Ada wanted to pick his brain about it…

The fact that he let her back in was telling enough, though. Ada thought he might’ve reaffirmed that they went their separate ways, but he looked at her like he’d been waiting for her to show up for years. And that… did something to Ada. What it was, she didn’t have a name for it, and she wasn’t interested in getting one.

Before the eggs were almost done Ada placed two pieces of toast in the toaster and pushed down the lever, hoping that not messing with the settings wouldn’t leave her with questionably cooked pieces of bread. She had two plates pulled from the cabinet on the right side of the wall by the sink, along with some silverware Ada found in a cluttered drawer. Everything was almost in place, but heavy footsteps behind her pulled her attention away.

She caught Leon’s blue eyes easily, and for some reason he stared at her like he’d seen a ghost. Ada didn’t know how long he’d been standing there, too busy trying not to burn the food, but clearly it’d been a minute at least with how Leon was leaning against the hallway wall, arms crossed over his chest.

He was wearing a white t-shirt and shorts, hair messy. He’d clearly woken up only a few minutes prior, but when Ada gazed past him, she noticed that the guest room door was opened more than how she’d left it.

Ah. That’s why. Ada thought, the silence between them persisting as she held Leon’s sharp gaze.

He thought she’d left. He’d seen the opened door, bed made but empty, and thought Ada had lied and left before he could wake up.

Maybe this wasn’t going to be as easy as she thought.

“…Good morning, Leon. I hope my breakfast is decent enough for you. I wouldn’t exactly consider myself a cook.” Ada said simply before turning back towards the stove, plating the eggs just as the toast popped up from the toaster and thankfully didn’t look burnt.

Leon’s eyes were burning on her back, and Ada wasn’t sure if it was because he couldn’t believe she hadn’t left, or because of what she was wearing. Leon had never seen her out of tactical gear or seductive red or black dresses, after all. Aside from being naked that one time, but that wasn’t something that needed to be brought up. Not now, anyways.

“Ada Wong not good at something? I would’ve never thought.” Leon said, his voice heavy and rough. He padded towards the kitchen and sat down at one of the stools by the counter, watching her more closely like she was some kind of enigma.

She pretended not to notice, handing him his plate before sitting down next to him, making sure there was a decent amount of space still between them. His statement had earned an eye roll from Ada, but it wasn’t in a disrespectful way. Almost playful, if you asked the right person.

“A ‘thank you’ would be nice.” Ada said, holding her fork in her hand and taking a bite of eggs.

“Thank you, Ada.”

Silence persisted between them after that as they ate, their respective gazes focused on the food in front of them. It was incredibly awkward, considering they had never interacted… normally together, and Ada had half the mind to pack her things and leave.

But she couldn’t. She knew she couldn’t. After all, she’d sold all her apartments just so she wouldn’t have anywhere to run to anymore. But that wasn’t something Leon needed to know, at least right now. Ada knew that she would never make this change if she had somewhere else to go. For now, all she had was what she put in her bag and… Leon.

She didn’t like how that made her feel. The feelings would twist up inside of her, give her a headache, make her nauseous. Ada didn’t live a life of honesty, her name itself was a lie. It was much easier for her to put on a mask and get through life as someone else. But then she met Leon, and everything was ruined. He said ‘Ada,’ and she started to feel like it was her name.

Ada Wong didn’t know who she was anymore. Fifty-three, almost fifty-four, and she had less of a concept of self than a toddler. It was embarrassing, but the idea of trying to figure out ‘who she was’ was even worse, and for now Ada was content on being the recently retired spy that caused trouble wherever she went.

“I’m going to go out for a morning run.” Leon suddenly said, breaking the silence. He’d finished eating already, the stool screeching against the floor as he got up and brought it to the sink.

Ada hummed, still picking at her own plate. The conversation seemed to end there as Leon disappeared back into his bedroom, supposedly to get changed and ready for his run.

The idea of it made Ada smile a little. Of course Leon Kennedy went on daily morning runs.

When Leon returned, he had earbuds in his ears, athletic shorts and a shirt in place of what he slept in, and what looked like expensive running shoes on his feet. He really liked to pick and choose what he spent money on, it seemed.

Ada had finished eating by then, but still sat at the counter in her pajamas. She didn’t know what to do while Leon was gone, let alone for the rest of the day. Ada couldn’t believe he felt comfortable enough to leave the house and expect her to still be here, especially with how he reacted to the empty guest room.

He stood just short of the door, turning towards her with a calm expression. Age had certainly changed him, and Ada found herself missing the innocence he had back in Raccoon City. But this was how things were, for the both of them. She had learned to accept that a long time ago.

“You going to be here when I get back?” Leon asked, raising an eyebrow as he gazed at her. If his eyes dropped below her face, Ada didn’t acknowledge it.

It took her a moment to respond, looking back at him quietly. For some reason, this one felt harder to reassure. Like doing so made it… permanent.

“Yeah, I’ll be here. Try not to miss me too much.” Ada mused finally, resting her head on her chin, elbow propped up on the counter.

Leon didn’t say anything in response, but Ada didn’t miss the way he smirked at her words before opening the door and heading outside. She could hear his footsteps on the gravel, the sound growing quieter and quieter as he got further away. Eventually, Ada couldn’t hear Leon at all, and she knew she was completely alone in his house.

But Leon expected her to be there when he got back.

And this time, Ada would be. She promised, after all.