#wolfsquads

Every part of Zeno bristles in the mere presence of Chris Redfield, the clone knowing exactly how dangerous the captain of the Hound Wolf Squad was but the way 'discount' is casually thrown in really hits a nerve, causing Zeno to pull a face like Chris had just said something especially nasty. Who or what the fuck was Timberlake? Was that a place? A person? Either answer could be correct, and Redfield isn't exactly elaborating on which one it is but Zeno isn't willing to reveal how little he actually knows about the world outside of what The Connections had taught him. His mood doesn't improve when watching Redfield flick away the spent cigarette he's just finished, an act that annoys Zeno further and makes him want one too when he picks up on the scent of tobacco hanging around the man, trying not to inhale too deeply because he can smell Chris too. It's oddly familiar, despite the fact they've had next to no contact with one another on a personal level. Figures with Redfield being the one to kill his original in Albert, but did that mean he had to come out with such statements? Bad enough he got compared to Albert as often as he did just because he was the man's clone but now Redfield had the audacity to compare him to... to.... Whatever or whoever the hell this 'Timberthing' was. So Zeno does the mature thing, puffing out his chest as he glares at the other man with absolute venom in his eyes, staring back at Chris's of hazelnut through dark lenses that cannot completely hide pinpricks of gold hidden behind them and says out loud, in an almost childish way....

ELECTRA HEART

❝You'll be biting off MORE than you could ever chew on, you boulder-punching BITCH.❞

The retort flies out of the Metal Lord's mouth faster than he could attempt to put together HOW in the flying FUCK did this foreigner entire HIS domain WITHOUT his knowledge? Hell, he has cameras all over his section of paradise, and even the other Lord's properties! Just ain't RIGHT to be surprised like this.

Last time he spotted him on the camera feed, Chris was back in the village. Shit, it didn't give him a single chance to clean up his workspaces, or have a monstrosity of an invention to show off and split the other man in two. Embarrassing!

Heisenberg sniffles, adjusting the sunglasses that rest on the bridge of his nose. He's not intimidated in the SLIGHTEST at the idea of having to face off with mister macho man here. If it's a FIGHT the solider of sorts is looking for, that is. Oh so casually, the older man looks the intruder up and down to size him up before gloved hands rest lazily on his own hips.

❝You always breaking into people's factories and THREATENING them? VERY American of you!❞

@wolfsquads sent: ❛  if you've got a problem with the way i handle things, just say so.  ❜

"are y'fuckin' serious . . . ?" it's a bit scary when ashe is beyond the point of yelling and makin' a fuss about it. eye roll hard enough to see into the back of her head. "i was NOT subtle about my protests t'doing this YOUR way, and you bullheaded us in regardless." arms cross and she merely stares into his soul. "so if you're lookin' at me to unbury us from this grave, you are sorely mistaking me for someone who won't die here being PETTY."

Steam fills the bathroom, fogging up the mirror entirely by the time Chris gets back. He turns the cold water on just a tad, just enough that when he steps in it won’t be damaging to his skin. The water is scalding, and it’s probably not a good idea to get in with it hot like that, but Leon doesn’t care either. At least he has enough sense to ensure it’s not scalding enough to do some serious damage to him. 

If Chris notices how hot the water is, he doesn’t say anything as he approaches the door carefully. Leon doesn’t flinch or react much by the time Chris half enters to put the clothes down, staring at the water as it beats down on the shower floor.  

He’s exhausted, emotionally and physically, and if he turns to look at Chris he’s certain the man will be able to see it. Unwilling to let Chris fret any worse than he already is, he doesn’t turn to look at him. Though, he’s well aware that might have the opposite effect, because the silence is sudden and harsh without Leon fully meaning for it to be. 

He makes sure to react, to turn his body slightly so that Chris knows that he’s acknowledged him. That he hasn’t completely checked out just yet. The scalding water will help, he thinks, it’ll give him something to focus on so that he doesn’t just check out completely. 

Would it be so bad if he did, though? Yes, Leon thinks. At least while he’s showering. The last thing he wants is Chris to have to burst in here because he’s taking far too long in the shower and Chris gets way too worried about him. He’s not that bad off yet. Almost, but not quite. 

“Thanks.” Leon mutters again but it’s the only thing he says, he’s not even sure if Chris hears him, nor does he seem to care much. He closes the door, locks it with a ‘click’ out of habit more than anything.  

He peels each piece of clothing off slowly, carefully, hissing as teeth grit together and fabric sticky with blood rubs against bruises against his ribs. Each piece of clothing is thrown onto a pile to the side until he’s completely bare, and in the shower he goes. 

Leon lets out a shuddering gasp as the hot water hits his skin, instantly making him jump, his body’s natural instinct trying to urge him out of the hot water but he forces himself still under such scalding heat. For a moment, he stands there, water cascading down his body and wetting his hair, dripping between his eyes until he can’t tell if it’s shower water or tears wetting his eyes once more. 

It’s like the moment he’s alone, another piece of the damn inside just breaks. He bites down on his cheek so hard to keep himself from audibly sobbing that he can taste metallic as his teeth accidently tears into the skin of his cheek.  

He doesn’t know how long he’s in the shower. He doesn’t know at what point he goes from scrubbing angerly at blood off of his body to sinking down onto the shower floor with his arms wrapped around his legs, curled into a ball with his back against the shower wall. Has he been crying this whole time? 

Get up, Kennedy. Fucking get up. You don’t need Chris getting worried. You’ve had your moment to sob your eyes out, now get out of the fucking floor and get dressed. 

It takes a few more minutes of Leon urging himself to get up before he finally forces himself up to his feet on trembling legs. He reaches up, turns the water off, and steps out of the shower while grabbing a towel to dry himself off. He doesn’t have the energy to do a very good job of it, deciding to just ensure he’s not dripping water all over the place before he pulls the clothes on. 

Each piece of clothing Chris brought him is pulled on, even the underwear. Once he’s fully dressed, he pauses, blinking at the mirror he’s now staring into. His wet bangs fall into his eyes, he looks like a fucking mess, and he swears he looks smaller than he did with Chris’ clothes being so big on him. At least the pants are able to be tied enough that they’re not falling off his hips. 

The shirt he wears is warm, comfortable, and it smells like Chris. In some odd way, it feels like safety, and he wants nothing more than to curl up exactly like this and let himself be swallowed by the baggy clothing. He brings his hand up to brush wet bangs out of his face, only for them to fall back in his eyes and he decides fuck it. 

Then, finally, he’s exiting the bathroom to find Chris waiting in the living room. With his arms wrapped around himself, Leon’s red-rimmed eyes – from how hard he’d apparently been crying in the shower – find Chris’ worried face. Not even his bangs can hide the evidence of his turmoil. He gives Chris a small, barely there smile, that is gone as soon as it appears. 

It’s hard to focus. Hard to want to be here. Maybe he can just drift away to that place where he feels nothing. He doesn’t want to scare the hell out of Chris but he doesn’t want to be here right now either, and it feels like a part of him is floating, like he’s struggling to stay in his body and it shows in the way he keeps blinking like he’s trying to force himself to stay grounded in reality instead of drift off.