Chapter Text
What had Caleb meant, when he said that they didn’t care about anything else than giving someone the virus? Sure, most of their rivals ultimately wanted the formulas to Uroboros but their motives were always rooted in achieving something evil or getting a lot of money.
The way he had worded his statement, made it sound like it was for a personal cause, rather than for a financial gain, also the boss? Who was he and why him specifically? Did he want it for himself or someone else?
These questions flooded Wesker’s mind for the entire time he had to spend in the basement after Caleb left, blindly waiting for the morning to come with no actual way to tell the hours passing.
If he had to look at it positively, it was in a way a beneficial circumstance, because the other companies meddling with their research were running on pure business, just wanting power, but this one was personal, meaning Albert’s life had more value.
Wesker sighed out loud, his back was hurting like hell from being kept in a hanging position for this long, he couldn’t wait to be brought down, even if it meant for his death.
Although he would’ve had one wish before dying, that being to experience having his powers back, even for a minute or two, he hated being helpless.
Before he could delve into more self pity he heard the lock turning again. The room didn’t light up nor did any kind of light come momentarily from the adjoining one. It definitely opened he heard it, but nothing seemed to happen other than that, was he imagining things? Had Caleb come or was it the guy he was supposed to meet? If he still had had the virus, at least he would’ve been able to see whoever it was.
Wesker wanted to speak out, call out Caleb’s name. Playing asleep would get him nothing, as he was sure they could tell he was awake and see him too, but he changed his mind. It could’ve been that the doctor came to check up on him, but found him awake and was trying to leave discreetly again. Calling out for Caleb would expose him right now and put his plans of escaping at risk, the door would close at any time and he could finally get some rest anyway, no point in complicating the situation.
But the door didn’t close. Even after what felt like hours. Wesker listened carefully and stayed up diligently, not wanting to miss the direct click sound coming from the door, but it never came.
Had he missed it? Or had he imagined the initial sound in the first place? Wesker hoped it wasn’t the latter, going insane was the last thing he wanted to worry about. Fuck it he was going to say something, there was a high chance that nothing would happen at all, after all this time whoever was at the other end (if they were there in the first place) would’ve left or fallen asleep.
“Are you there?” His tone was quiet but obviously distinguishable in the silence. Still, no reply, then he simply must’ve imagined it, that was all to the matter. Disappointed, Wesker supposed he could sleep now, he closed his eyes and drifted to sleep from the whole day’s exhaustion straight away.
Caleb watched him close his eyes and fall asleep, sitting across from him in the doorway. After waiting some time just to be safe, he sighed out loud, got up and closed the door with a soft click. Why exactly he had done that was beyond his ability to comprehend, but he guessed some company wouldn’t hurt on a sleepless night of his, for both of them.
Wesker couldn’t tell when he woke up — whether the incident that happened the night before was real or just a dream now, even though he believed in it strongly before opening his eyes. He didn’t know if it was the next day already but his stomach churned at the thought of this being the last day he woke up, all because he trusted a stranger and let his personal judgment get the better of him. He had exhausted all of his anger by now however and all there was left was emptiness, if this was his fate then so be it there was nothing to do.
Without him noticing, Caleb stepped in the room again. When the sounds of his footsteps gave him away Wesker wished for him to turn on the lights for the final time, at least he would be aware of what was going to happen and wouldn’t need to rely too much on the other senses.
As if reading his mind, the lights came on, bringing pain at first then clarity.
Caleb was a couple of steps away from him, he was holding a tiny metal key. Much to Wesker's surprise both of his hands were uncuffed. Unfortunately Caleb clearly lacked the experience to realize that his liberating act was allowing gravity to take over and make Albert topple forwards from not having a balanced position.
Caleb managed to catch him in his arms before he hit the floor and broke his face, pulling them in a rather melodramatic pose.
Albert cursed under his breath, his senses being overwhelmed from the sudden contact. Not letting him go, Caleb released his legs as well and straightened Wesker into a standing position.
Blood rushed to Wesker's yet unmoved limbs making him go completely limp. With no surprise he fell again, locking eyes with Caleb for a moment before falling down on the ground dramatically.
“Why didn’t you catch me this time?!” Wesker complained with a scowl on his face , shaking his arms to make blood return to them.
Caleb extended his arm to help Albert get up and answered him: “What kinda torturer goes around huggin’ his victims twice a day.” And of course his smirk made its way back to his face.
Wesker punched him in the arm, moving as far as possible away from his hold. “Now you want to be a torturer? Thought you made guns.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“Not ‘ A torturer’ but yer torturer specifically.” He winked.
“ Why? The gun industry not paying you enough anymore?”
“Mhmm.” Caleb grabbed him by his arms and pinned them behind his back, pulling out a different set of handcuffs and putting them on Wesker. Great, freed at once, only to be enslaved again.
“If ya asked me I’d much rather put a rag in yer mouth to shut you up for once, but orders are orders.”
Caleb's tone was teasing, his hold almost gentle as he locked the cuffs and pushed Wesker forwards to make him walk towards the exit.
“Do they think my hands are my best weapons?”
“Wrongly so.”
“Then why don’t you correct them?” Wesker asked sheepishly, stopping before the doorway.
“ Not my business to do so, that’s why .”
“Well that’s not fair… you’re the brightest among them all, I believe .’’
“Tryin’ to get into my pants won’t get’cha out of here Albert, let me tell you this.’’
He playfully pushed Albert through, making him stumble over the frame. They made a turn to the left.
“No, but it will get me into your pants…” That earned Albert a curious look and another shove, Caleb mumbled something under his breath.
“Are you going to feed me again later? I’m starving.” Might as well risk it, Albert thought, he would be able to tell based on Caleb's response if his question was ridiculous or not, considering dead men don’t need food .
“Depends if we have your portion left in the fridge, Redeyes.”
Smart motherfucker had called on his bluff, Wesker scoffed to himself, he had lost motivation to continue playing this cat and mouse game any longer, so he quieted down before ultimately coming across a room with a thick metal door instead of the wooden ones he was familiar with for a change. He supposed this was the boss’ office.
Caleb looked at his direction one last time before dragging the handle down and pushing the door inwards. Wesker was wrong, he had expected a work cabinet of sorts, instead he was met with a medical looking room with signature luminescent lighting and steady beeping of someone’s heart monitor.
He looked at Caleb with a confused expression as they walked further into the room, Caleb just nodded at him and took Wesker even further until they came across a patient ward covered with a curtain.
Caleb drew the curtain back and Wesker widened his eyes in surprise. There was a little girl, laying down on the bed, unconscious with a sickly face, something was clearly wrong with her, Wesker couldn’t exactly pinpoint what but she didn’t look like she had much time left to live. Beside her sat a man with a worried look on his face, holding her weak hand tightly. So that was the boss and this was his daughter or a relative, pieces of the puzzle arranged themselves together in Wesker's mind.
The man finally noticed their presence in the room and looked Wesker in the eyes, an awkward smile made its way on his face and he quickly wiped the tears rolling down his cheeks.
“Albert Wesker, I finally got to meet you. I hope you’re not too upset with us for Caleb's lack of hospitality.” The man laughed out, extending his hand to Albert for a handshake, Caleb stirred in the background, sighing at his boss’s comment.
Wesker shook his hand with his bruised one and gave a polite smile, flaunting the deep cut in the middle of his palm to the boss to show him the true extent of the hospitality he had received here.
“You probably guessed already exactly what’s going on here…” he glanced at his daughter. “… my little girl, last year she was kidnapped, all because of me, for some measly amount of money and weapons, I gave them whatever they wanted, but those sick bastards betrayed me, saying they would teach me a lesson on how to act in the future.” He dragged his hand along the blanket covering her lower body and took it off, revealing a sight that made Wesker's insides twist, he noticed Caleb was looking in another direction all together. Both of her legs were cut off at the knee and her arms were covered in scarred cuts and bruises. Who was cruel enough to do this to a small child like her? Wesker couldn’t believe his eyes. He took a deep breath and looked back at the father.
“Th- the virus needs a suitable vessel, there is a high chance she won’t make it, even if we inject her…”
A momentary silence took over the conversation, steady beeps from the monitor being the only interruption.
“She’s a strong one, let me tell you that-“ The boss cradled her head, running his fingers through her hair, “- We have to try, this is her only chance.
You know, before my wife passed away, she used to be an opera dancer. My sweet little girl always wanted to be a ballerina like her mother. You have to help her Wesker, please. If it doesn’t work out then… I will let her rest, she’s been fighting for far too long.”
Wesker felt like this was the worst torture he had experienced the whole time he had been there, Caleb had left to the other room, he felt all alone. Wesker looked back at the boss, who was putting the covers back on her. It was clear that she was his entire world and refusing now would mean immediate death, not like he didn’t want to help either. He needed some time to sort everything through.
“Please give me time to make up my mind until tomorrow, this is… a lot.”
“This has been her everyday life for a year now.” The boss spat out with valid anger, but he tried his best to calm down and agreed to Wesker's proposal, it was not like he had any other choice.
“Until tomorrow. And saying no means a slow and painful death just to keep in mind.”
Wesker nodded, he knew that and left the man alone, trying to find Caleb. Was he going to be locked up again? Wesker winced at the thought, he walked across the corridor, good thing Caleb hadn’t closed the doors, it would be hard to open any of them with his handcuffs. At last found Caleb leaning against a window with a smoke in his hand. Wesker approached him and stood next to him, Caleb gave out an acknowledging glance but stayed silent, dragging one out instead.
“How old is she?’’ Wesker asked quietly, staring out of the window admiring the nature he hadn’t seen in a while, basking into the sunrays falling on his skin after being deprived of them.
“She’s turnin’ 8 in two weeks, was jus’ 6 when it happened to her, used to run ‘round here all gigglin’ , sunshine and rainbows and now… he didn’t finish his sentence and opted for trying to take a deep breath.
“I want to try and help her, it doesn't matter if I die by the hand of one of yours or one of mine, I might as well try to save a life.”
Caleb looked at him for the first time since they got here, it was obvious he didn’t want any violence caused to Albert but, there was nothing he could do to prevent it clearly.
“Wanna smoke?” he asked instead of answering anything else.
“Sure.” He did need something to take the edge of right now. Caleb, forgetting his hands were tied, tried passing the cigarette to Albert, only for his offering to be met unaccepted.
“Oh I forgot, there you go, open yer mouth, hold it let me put it in for ya.’’ Albert just rolled his eyes and opened his mouth when Caleb held the half smoken cigarette to his lips, holding it securely between them.
He took a drag and Caleb diligently pulled it out in time, allowing Wesker to exhale. He placed it in his own mouth laughing slightly as he blew the smoke in Wesker’s face, making him start a coughing fit.
“We were just talking about a helpless little child, stop acting like this.’’ Wesker bumped his shoulder into him and shot a nasty glare.
“I know, I know. Matter of fact — she’s my niece and she’s not helpless, she has you.’’ Caleb threw the cigarette out of the window and closed it back.
“You’re the boss’s brother?!’’ Wesker asked, surprised. He could tell that the girl was precious for the both of them , ‘she has you’? He didn’t know whether that was meant as a guiltripping way or genuine hope, but it worked on him none other less .
“Brother in law, she’s my late sister’s daughter.’’
“ Oh, I’m sorry for your loss.” Wesker actually felt bad for him, Caleb was only trying to save his family after all.
“Let's go eat somethin’, I thought you were starvin’.”
Wesker followed without saying anything, maybe he shouldn’t bring up the girl anymore, Caleb already seemed to be in a bad mood, Albert guessed the other man was considering the possibility that she wouldn’t adapt to the virus, she was very weak after all.
They made their ways through countless corridors and climbed a couple of flights of stairs to get to a dimly lit room that looked like a bedroom.
Albert assumed it was Caleb’s as he mindlessly shuffled through the mini-fridge standing below the desk after he uncuffed Wesker in the condition that he would behave and got back with two sandwiches and some drinks.
“ Was supposed to lock you up again, but that would be inhospitable.’’
Wesker smiled a little thank you to him and took the sandwich, not wasting any time after starving for days and biting straight into it. Caleb meanwhile poured himself a cup of whisky and water for Wesker.
The two men ate quietly on the bed for a couple of minutes, until Caleb prepared another glass. Wesker had already drunk his water and would definitely appreciate a glass of whiskey himself, he would have a hard day tomorrow, if it even came. Caleb laughed at Albert’s fixated face on the bottle and poured him some, which he downed in one sip.
“Don’t drink too much now, ya wouldn’t wanna accidentally go confessin’ your true love for me, would ya?”
“Yes, confess my true love to my one and only kidnapper, who do you take me for?”
Wesker smiled at him and poured himself another round, the strong alcohol was already getting to him, not having much in his stomach didn’t help either.
“Well I would say it but you won’t like it.” Caleb smiled at him back, taking off his boots and shifting in a laying down position.
“Sure, umm Caleb, is there a bathroom somewhere around here?”
“Oh god, it’s on the other side of the base, just pee in that flower pot over here, don’t make me take you all the way out there.” Caleb pointed at the plant pot standing in the corner, that thing had clearly seen better days before, surely some hydration wouldn’t harm it and Wesker was too tipsy to complain.
He got up and unzipped his pants, Caleb was laying down looking up at the ceiling, the silence was awkward, maybe it was a bad idea to agree, he felt a gaze staring daggers into his back.
“I know you’re staring, old pervert!”
“Jus’ wanted to see where that cockiness was coming from.” Caleb laughed out in a drunken manner.
“Well?” Albert returned with an even more teasing tone.
“Well, I think you should get some rest ‘fore it gets too late.”
“And where exactly should I sleep?” Albert zipped his pants back up and made his way back to the bed where Caleb was splayed out, taking the most of the space, surely he wasn’t suggesting that they slept in the same bed, was he?
“Yeah wait, you’re right, let me get up and hang you back up on the wall.” Caleb joked with no intention of moving an inch and instead scooted over to the side making space for Wesker.
“At least take off your clothes.” Albert meant it in a way that he shouldn’t be sleeping with his regular jeans and a shirt, but it had come out differently as Caleb’s face lit up with the given opportunity for a jab.
“Help us with the virus and I’ll take off whatever you ask me Redeyes.”
“I didn’t mean it that way” Wesker complained quietly, admitting defeat and laying down next to Caleb.
Albert closed his eyes, he couldn’t believe what kind of situation he had tangled himself up with.
He would have one more morning to think about it tomorrow, before he agreed to help the boss.
Right now, he needs to rest.