#revitalisation

Click, click, click. One by one I load the 10mm bullets into magazines, the damp cold mildewy air slows in my lungs as I breath shallow and controlled.

"Evelyn"

warmth radiates through my body as two large hands wrap around my waist and pull me towards him, his lips hover above my ear.

"Why are you hiding out here, the General is about to make a speech and as the bride and groom we annoyingly can't skip it"

My body melds against the familiar frame so perfectly, his hands naturally comfortable against my chiffon draped frame. The white ruffles of my wedding dress crumple against him and a soft laugh bubbles up my chest.

I pull the slide from the handgun, the engraved vines splitting cleanly down the middle as the weapon comes apart in my hands.

"I needed some fresh air my love"

I close my eyes, focusing on the feel of the warm sunbeams on my pale skin, the scent of fresh flowers in bloom around us. The garden was lush full of native flowers and flora, I rested my head my head back against his chest.

"The Generals speech can wait, it's our wedding day and we've barely had a moment to ourselves.." I grumble slightly

His chuckle was dangerously low as his lips brush across the back of my neck which makes my breath slow and I instinctively arch back into him. My hands find his still holding onto my waist and pull them around my body to feel closer to him.

Each piece is placed on the lid of the DSO supply box, barrel, spring, frame.

I reach for the second gun.

"Lucas, my husband.."

my call to him comes out breathy and dripping with desire and I pull away, turning in his arms and looking up into his amber brown eyes. His features carved Into my memory, the hard set of his jaw, the angled curve of his nose. His deep brown chestnut hair and freckle just above his straight set brows.

I reach for the second gun

"Say it again" his words a whisper full of love as he leans down to me again.. I pull back slightly.

"As much as I cannot wait for you to ruin me in this wedding dress, that can wait until we get back to the hotel and.."

My thumb brushes the engraved silver roses across the body before pushing the pin out and seperating the gun as methodically as the first one.

"I want to give you something before we head back in" i say

Laying each and every piece out side by side until there's a deconstructed mirrored image of two guns before me.

My manicured baby blue nails reach for the metal case I had sitting not far from where I was, resting on stone bench. The soft click of the locks release as I open it, two custom handguns rest side by side, inside the box. One silver with black delicate roses,

One black with silver thorned vines.

I pick up the heavy pieces effortlessly with the familiarity that only years of training and use can show. Holding them by the body and turning them to reveal the engraved initials on the bottom of each gun. L.L. on the black in deep blood red and E.L. on the silver.

"A wedding present.. for both of us, I know most couples get something like matching coffee mugs or tattoos, some cliche shit like that but this is more our style"

the smile that spreads across my face is so natural, and full of life when I look up at my husband. My cheeks blush as full of colour and life as the spring blooms around us.

"You're the best fucking wife a man could ask for Evelyn.." his pearly wide smile crashes into my own as with laugh into eachother lips.

Click, the final pieces click back into place, metal locking together. The sound ricocheting through the card nearly empty parking garage basement.

"Are you sure you know how to handle those things" Leon's voice cuts through the clouded memory I found myself in, low and edged with that familiar sarcasm.

I turn on my heel, leather boots grinding into the stone floor, and look up at him. He’s seated against the open back of the military truck now, one shoulder braced lazily against the frame. In his hands, a large black-and-silver magnum His gloved fingers move with practiced precision as he checks the chamber, sliding each bullet into place one by one. I let myself linger in appreciation, watching him work his skilled hands before dragging my gaze back to his blue eyes.

"Keep talking" I say with a warning snark holstering my twin guns into the leather that sits firmly against my ribcage "and ill show you just how well I can handle my weapons"

"I'm just saying" he replies, unfazed, snapping the chamber shut before holstering the gun against his thigh. "I've watched you disassemble and reassemble them both 3 times now.."

"It's just something I do before a mission. Helps calms any nerves or bubbling emotions" i lean against the metal supply boxes, I had changed into a black tight top, matching black pocketed cargo pants affixed with holsters and utility belt for guns, ammunition and various items I will need down there.

"Can you hand me that rifle Kennedy?" I nod to the open case inside the truck where a semi automatic sniper sits face up, black and angled and calling my name.

"What no please?"He teases already reaching for it "I seem remember how good you were with your manners"

He handles the gun with such control and ease as he stands up and in a couple long strides is standing before me, his hands extending the weapon to me. My body burns with uncontrolled tension as the scent of his cologne hits my nose again, I take the gun from his hands without looking up at him and thread the strap over my shoulder until it settles against my back supported.

"You can shove that 'please' up your ass, Kennedy" It comes out sharper than I intended.

For a flicker of a second, something twists in my chest because despite the sarcasm, the tension, the constant push and pull. he's been nothing but decent and even kind to me since we met. However it doesn't stop the bite and vitriol in my voice.

"If I wasn't trying to be such a professional right now" a slow smile spreads across his lips, if leaning into my snark. "I would tell you how much I enjoyed that fiesty attitude"

His voice dropping to a whisper and for a moment the garage around us, the other members of our team disappear and it's just us.

"You infuriate me Leon." Anger floods my senses, was he really flirting with me still? After each snap and dismissal of his advances and attention. How could he be so stubborn and pig headed!

"Is that what the kids are calling it these days, Infuriation?.. in my day we called it arous-" I go to slap the word out if his mouth before It passes his lips but before my hand even comes in contact with face his own hand reaches out and now encompassed my wrist, holding it in place mid air.

My breath catches in my lungs and heat blooms deep in my stomach, flushing up my neck and into my cheeks. I cursed silently hoping he can't read the state I was suddenly in but the glimmer in his ocean gaze and the slight breathy words that followed instilled in me that he knew exactly how I was feeling.

"Let me buy you a drink after this" he says, low and I had prayed that Mika and the boys hadn't glanced back at the two of us.

"Do I need to remind you what happened last time you brought me a drink" I spit out sounding as threatening as a kittens first hisses. I swallow trying to put some steel back into my throat.

“You can remind me,” he says, leaning in just enough for his hot breath to brush my temple. His stubble grazes my skin, sending a shiver straight down my spine. “But honestly… I haven’t stopped thinking about it.”

My pulse hammers.

“The way you said ‘please’,” he continues softly, each word slow and removed, “like you needed it.. like you wanted more.”

I turn my head leaning into his words, my breath starting to mingle with his own and I swallow again.

“I was more than willing to give you more Eve..”

Then he’s gone, pulling back like nothing happened, like he didn’t just unravel me in the span of a few seconds. A quick wink follows, and he turns, heading toward the team gathered around a manhole. Mika holds a crowbar in hand and looks back towards the approaching Leon. I turn away from the group pulling my headphones over my ears and taking a moment to steady my raging breaths before walking over.

Mikah removes the manhole cover, heaving it aside. Wordlessly he looks up at me his hand fisted in his palm. We had served on countless missions together these past 4 years and along the way we played our games, laid out bets and gambled on missions. Rock paper scissors was our go too when we had to choose who goes in first and In 4 years of playing, never had I won.

"She always picks scissors" I catch his lips mouth to the group as his words are lulled out by my music. I had picked up the skill of reading lips over the years needing some way of understanding my team without sacrificing the lifeblood of music I often had in my ears. I pull my flashlight out of my pocket, clicking it on and gripping it between my teeth. The ladder was bitingly cold to the touch against my palms as I descend into the sewers. The smell hits halfway down, rotting decay and stagnant water. I don't think you ever truly get used to the smell of places like this no matter how many times you've trudged through them.

The twangy cords of a blues songs fades away into an electric cacophony of notes that's set my nerves alight as we make our way through the sewers, rats scurry across cobble stone. I keep my pistol raised, flashlight angled across the barrel at the ready as we draw closer to the umbrella facility, Mikah informed us during the debrief that I hardly paid attention too on the plane. That a week ago one of our teams were sent to clear out an infection breakout above us in the city, their last transmission was informing us about this facility and then they went dark. That's where were sent in, to finish their mission and retrieve what we can.

I feel a firm tap on my shoulder and look up to see Mikah gesturing to his ear. I knew what this meant, focus, music down. I remove the headphones as the song reaches its crescendo and hook them onto my belt silently pausing my steps but keeping my attention and focus on our surroundings.

"We're getting close." He says and I fall back instinctively behind the group, taking up the rear. Grayson and Mikah take my place leading the group, the kid holds a small screen in his hand showing the glowing red dot where the entrance is located.

Issac and Leon shift between us. The grip on my gun tightens in nervous fear fueled anticipation I fight the need to drown the bubbling memories by pulling my headphones back on claws at me but I don't. I may be stubborn and ready to die but I would never disobey direct orders from mikah however everyone else can get fucked. He saved my life dragged my nearly dead ass out of that umbrella facility 5 years ago and has kept me by his side ever since, pulling me back from the edge time and time again despite how many times I've tried to throw myself over it.

The metal ringing of our heavy footfalls comes to a stop as we reach what looks like an empty Gray concrete wall, with a metal box on the side. Grayson doesnt hesitate before opening the box and finding a small screen and keypad, he fishes a laptop from his bag and wires it up working his magic on the system. I stay by the end of the alley keeping my light and aim pointed out into the darkened tunnels. Foot steps approach me from behind and soon Mikah is beside me his voice low and for only the two of us.

"I need you down here Eve. Focused and with me." He says and I knew what he meant, every step closer to this place was dragging something up from inside me. another emotion after the next, memories pulled out of my mind like bodies out of a mass grave. Bloody and violent and so encompassing that nothing else mattered except the pain.

"I'm here Mikah. With you, with this team" I exhale sharply, lowering my weapon, holstering both gun and torch. My back hits the damp stone wall as I rake a hand through my hair.

"Fuck. What happened with Lucas was one thing.. what happened to my team down there, now that's another. And I will not see this team meet the same fate. Not you, not Leon and not even the other two.. if anyone's dying down here. It's me and no one else" I say determined

Mikah doesn't argue instead he reaches out and pulls me against him, a tight hug that makes my entire body go rigid against his but I don't pull away. He had always been like this, a hugger for those he loved. His lips press against my hair before murmuring in my hair.

"You're not dying down here Eve. Didn't drag you out of one Umbrella hellhole just to lose you in another." Theres a flicker of humour in his words that almost fell short of his charm before he pulls back and looks me in the eyes. "What's going on with you and Leon?"

That rigidity I held during the hug somehow tightens more and my gaze twists into a glare as I scoff at his prying attempt

"Nothing 'going on' with that cocky douche canoe.." I spit a little too fast and full of that defensiveness that screams that I am lying through my pearly white teeth.

"Yeah. Fucking. Right" each word is deliberately slow and held on a cocky grin "I saw you too before, don't be shy now. I know you better than that" he bumps my shoulder playfully and I can't help but soften the slightest bit

"I've never seen you show anything but disgust towards a man except Lucas and yet you're practically drooling over Leon. I mean I don't blame you, look at him." He says

"I am not drooling!-" I start to say in a near yell before dropping my voice. Knowing they most likely heard in this echoing hall "Its. Nothing! Drop it.. okay, if we make it out of this then i tell you something, maybe. Until then there is absolutely nothing, we are professionals"

There's a long moment of silence as he stared at me with that wide shit eating grin, his arms crossed over his chest. He looks down towards Leon and back to me raising both eyebrows and nodding slowly

"Okay Okay..just keep your focus on the mission Eve, no Dickstractions if you will." He chuckles out the last word and I punch his arm like an annoyed sibling, he laughs it off "douche canoe really?"