Chapter Text
The ballroom was buzzing with wealthy people and scientists who allegedly had the best therapy plans for diseases no one had ever heard of—as long as you could pay the price. Leon stood in the corner of the hall next to Patrick, observing President Graham as he made his way around the ballroom, greeting different people. Leon could not help but wonder how much of their research would eventually lead to him putting a bullet in their finest creations when Patrick kept mentioning Jason, the hero of Penamstan, and how he was looking up to be him one day. Patrick reminded him himself before Raccoon City, wide-eyes, naive and energetic.
A woman made her way over to them and her eyes locked onto Leon from head to toe, as if she could see right through his suit. She smiled sweetly and her overpowering perfume encircled both Leon and Patrick; while Leon stood still, Patrick stepped away, seemingly intimidated by her scent.
"Are all of Graham's bodyguards chosen based on their looks?" she asked, closing the gap between her and Leon; he had to look down to see her face clearly. "Because you all look very…delicious."
Leon remained still and responded: “Sorry Madam, please don’t disturb us as we’re on duty.”
“I can definitely wait, my schedule just opened tonight because of you.” The woman pressed further. Patrick furrowed his brows and tried not to laugh.
Leon simply said. “Sorry, Madam.”
She looked undeniably disappointed, yet her expression betrayed a glimmer of anticipation as she looked at Patrick. “What about you? Are you a young man looking for some fun?”
Patrick shook his head and responded, “Nope, ma'am, Not interested in being someone's rebound.”
The woman shrugged and walked away from them. Once out of hearing range, Patrick asked Leon, “Aren't you always asking every single woman you meet for dinner? To be honest, I am surprised you rejected every single one of them tonight.”
Leon nodded his head towards President Graham to signal Patrick to put his focus on President Graham, who had just noticed Leon and waved at him.
“Stay alert. It is not as safe as you think.” Leon warned Patrick before heading over to greet President Graham.
“Sir, what do you need?” Leon inquired as he stepped closer to Graham.
“I wanted to introduce you to Derek Simmons; I'm sure you have heard of him from Adam. Thought it would be an excellent time to bring you two together.” Graham then pointed at Simmons and said, “This is Leon Kennedy; he saved Ashley last year, and helped Birkin survive Raccoon City.”
Leon offered his hand in greeting and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir.”
The man shook Leon's hand and replied, “Adam and Sherry have told me much about you. You should drop by sometime; Sherry misses you.”
“That's a very kind offer, thank you.' Leon responded with gratitude.
As Ada stepped into the hall, she took a flute of champagne and discreetly looked around. She had received the invitation from Simmons but her primary intention was to attend to her other business matters.
Upon noticing Leon, Graham and Simmons conversing while Ricardo Irving talked with Defense Secretary Wilson across the room, she couldn't help but comment, "Oh, what an occasion."
Ada had no intention of sticking around when Simmons was present and thus moved quickly towards Irving who still held his glass of champagne.
"You will be happy with every fortune you've spent on my product," Irving asserted as he half bowed in front of Wilson.
"Let's not draw attention to our association," Wilson said sternly, an evident hint of repugnance in his tone. "My friends and I would rather stay clear of any mention in the papers."
"Perhaps you need a more discreet partner, Secretary Wilson," Ada said charmingly, wearing one of her signature flirtatious grins.
"Hey! Wong!" Irving objected.
Wilson looked annoyed as he was interrupted, but his expression shifted as soon as he got the sight of Ada's figure. His face lit up with interest as he said, "It would be nice to have someone as lovely as you as a partner," he said. "I don't think we've met before, have we?" He held out his hand in greeting.
Ada's smile grew wider as if she was happy about the compliment. She sing-songed, "I have heard so much about you, Mr Wilson." Before Wilson could take her hand, however, Irving interjected, "Get lost old man! She's Wesker's woman, you won’t want to mess with her.”
Wilson stopped and looked at Ada for a moment, trying to decide if Irving was telling the truth. Finally, he said, "Please tell Dr. Wesker the US government is grateful for his help in the Raccoon Trials, Miss Wong," and made a hasty exit as if Ada grew into a tyrant and hunted him down.
“I really wish people wouldn't call me that, I have no intention to compete with Gionne.” Ada conveniently reminded Irving when Wilson was no longer visible.
"Hahaha, she's definitely got it bad for Wesker," said Irving, earning distasteful looks from those around them. He stared back defiantly and added, "Just like everyone else here who pretends they're better than me. They'll regret it one day!"
Taking a sip of her champagne, Ada replied nonchalantly, “While it must be fascinating and refreshing to listen to your garage talk about these people, but I have a tight schedule today. Could you please cut the chase, Mr Irving?”
“What an irony - even your way of telling people to stop their bullshit sounds just like Wesker.” Irving said as he snatched a glass of champagne from a waiter who had passed by. Ada simply watched as Irving gulped down the drink.
“I got a message from the old fart’s butler, the old man wants Wesker to find him in his cave.”
Ada shook her head and took another sip.“It looks like you really have a bone to pick with Gionne now. I'll see what I can do.”
“I can’t wait to see her face when she realizes she missed the chance to aid Wesker simply because I preferred you over her.” The imagination of Excella Gionne showing her regrets sent Irving to an ecstatic state as he waved his hands in the air with glee.
Ada noticed one of Irving's hands were nearing her bare back, she lifted an eyebrow and blocked it with her champagne flute.
“Oh,” Irving said dejectedly as Ada pushed away his hand.
“Trust me, with or without Wesker, you don’t want to mess with me.” She flashed an emotionless smile at him; Irving raised his hands in surrender. “Sure, how can I forget about your impressive resume about retrieving the G all alone from that hellhole.”
“That's a very kind offer, thank you.' Leon responded.
“It’s nothing. We all want to make this world a little bit better for the poor girl.” Simmons brushed it off easily with a wave of his hand.
Suddenly, a man erupted with gales of laughter on the opposite side of the room and they all glanced over. Leon was surprised to find Ada was standing right next to the frenzied man, looking bored and unimpressed.
“What a disgrace.” Simmons commented. Leon noticed that Simmons was not really annoyed by the man, though Leon sensed that his contempt was tinged with reminiscence in his tone.
“An acquaintance of yours?” questioned Graham.
“He works for Tricell Resource Development; he's famous for being as manic as a woman.” Simmons said. His eyes were still glued on the pair.
“Resource development? At a pharmaceutical conference?” Leon asked, sensing something strange about this narrative - knew from BSAA there had been a new merchant in the black market recently.
Barely tearing away his sight from the pair, Simmons looked back at Leon and Graham. “Forgive me, president, let me handle him before he further brings unpleasant disruption to the guests around.”
Graham nodded and Simmons left.
As Leon was about to leave Graham, Graham said “Go assist Derek, just in case, Leon.”
Leon replied “Yes sir.” Just as he'd been hoping for.
He used the intercom to inform the team and followed after Simmons quickly; He quickened his pace as he saw Ada stop Irving’s hand with her flute of champagne.
“Trust me, with or without Wesker, you won’t want to mess with me.”
“Sure, how can I forget about your impressive resume about retrieving the G all alone from that hellhole.”
“Maybe remember that before you try to lay your hands on the fair lady next time?” Simmons observed that Ada was attempting to depart as she spied him advancing.
Irving, though neurotic, had an eye for reading situations. He thought Ada was being cold and distant during all of their conversation due to her stoic calm facade, he realized she was indeed quite relaxed and opened the whole time as he noticed that Ada was becoming colder and more distant to Simmons as he approached.
“Perhaps the fair lady doesn't need a creepy old man inserting himself in her business with a colleague?” Irving challenged.
While Ada found it amusing to see Simmons and Irving insulting each other back and forth, she did not plan to complicate the situation any further as she saw Leon was walking straight to them.
"Maybe the lady does not require anyone to talk for her since she is standing right here." She finished off her champagne and placed the glass down near a table, then prepared to leave.
"Oh dear me, where are my manners?" Simmons stepped in front of her path to prevent her from leaving. "Sorry for intruding on your little meeting, Ada, but I promise the president to remove the uneducated from the scene.”
"Simmons -!" Irving protested, only to be silenced by a single finger held up by Ada. She kept her distance from Simmons and said, "My pleasure, Simmons. I can’t wait to leave your scene right now.”
“Ada, I wouldn't dream of calling someone as intellectually adept as you ‘uneducated.’ Come on Ada, it's been a long time, why not catch up for a bit over some fine wine?” Simmons urged, motioning to the waiters to bring them beverages.
Leon listened most of the conversation a few steps away behind Simmons and he had never seen her so plainly express her distaste before. Not to mention someone like Simmons knew who Ada was in the first place. Whatever relationship they were in the past, it was something Ada discarded and she wished to leave Simmons as soon as possible. Leon stepped in and politely asked. “Sir, the president sent me here just in case.”
“Ah! Leon, great!” Simmons said, turning his back on Irving and skillfully opening some space between him and Ada. “Let me introduce you to agent Kennedy—he is also a Raccoon City survivor and saved Birkin’s daughter Sherry back then." he told Ada.
Ada, while sounding apathetic to Simmons’ introduction, seemed keenly interested in Leon as she gave him an appraising glance, and she did not bother to be discreet about it. “This is Miss Wong, she was a researcher in Umbrella before the incident, she is now working as a liaison between pharmaceuticals.”
Leon nodded and said. “My pleasure to meet you, Miss.”
Ada disregarded Leon and spoke to Simmons. “If you want me to stay, I am afraid you need something more than an eye candy specimen with a heart of gold, Simmons.” While Leon knew Ada said that just to irritate Simmons, he could not help feeling the warmth of embarrassment rising up into his cheeks and ears
“You got lucky, huh? you got the G virus host? How many tests did you run on that poor girl?” Irving spoke up and Leon felt like punching him hard in the face.
As Leon exercised his self control, he found Ada’s hand on his back. She wasn't looking at him though; she still looked impassive and she was focused on Simmons. Leon knew it was not the space and time to unleash his anger to the scumbag for referring Sherry as a rare test specimen, Ada’s hand was an effective distraction and a comforting moral support.
“Why don’t you just leave, Irving? I believe you've caused enough trouble here.” Simmons demanded.
“Yeah, sure. I'm sure a lot of people in the field would love to have this info." Irving shrugged and suggested slyly that he would inform Wesker about Sherry’s being before beginning to leave.
Leon wondered if he could catch a window between his duty and shut Irving up somewhere else.
Just then, Ada called out for him. "Irving."
"Yes? Miss Wong?" Irving stopped in his tracks.
“Sometimes boys blame the good guy who shows them the candies they can't have, no matter how old they are. And that’s part of the reason why you set up this meeting with me, right?” Ada implied. Irving paused and calculated the risk and gain for a second. He took Ada’s gloved hand and put a kiss on the back of her hand with a bow.
“It has been an honor to work with you, Miss Wong.” He said before he took his leave.
“Don't worry, Leon. We just want to check on Sherry now and then to make sure the virus is stable in her system – we don't want any surprises." Simmons reassured Leon. Then he noticed how close Ada was standing next to Leon, he frowned.
“I'm certain you will do everything right when it comes to Sherry, sir.” Leon responded quietly.
Simmons gave a glimpse to Ada, trying to read her expression on this topic. She simply raised her brows and looked unimpressed.
“Ada, don't you see I'm doing all I can?” Simmons asked her directly.
“What a saint, Simmons. How about you tell the fresh-faced agent here and Birkin’s poor daughter that it was you who pulled the strings behind the sterilization of Raccoon City?” Ada stated as she walked away. Leon noticed the knife wound he stitched back in the hotel room had completely vanished as she turned and revealed her lower bare back. There was a lace holding her top up over her bare back and it perfectly covered the scars he saw last time in the shower.
Simmons was surprised by Ada's decision to share their private disagreement with an outsider.
“You should understand that it was the only means to protect our country.” Simmons followed several steps behind Ada.
“You mean to protect yourself, Simmons.” Ada said nonchalantly, totally unfazed by his act in pretending to be a good hearted man.
“What took you so long, Leon? Stuck with another lady already?” Patrick teased as he reached Leon.
Ada looked over her shoulder and saw Patrick clapped his hand on Leon's shoulder. Patrick did not expect her to turn around and confront—or that she'd be so captivatingly beautiful.
“Well, it seems like the President has good taste when it comes to hiring his protective details.” Ada commented as she strode closer to Patrick. His face filled with shock and wonder at Ada being only inches away from him. “This one is particularly… appetizing.”
It was an interesting scene to Leon as he finally saw Patrick get a taste of his medicine for always speaking his mind and the color of red rushed to his face, but it quickly turned to an embarrassed one as Leon saw the color of red also rushed to another direction in Patrick. It was even more embarrassing to Leon as the scene reminded him of his younger self.
Leon stepped in and pushed Patrick away, attempting to save the rookie from Ada’s powerful charm. “Miss Wong, please don’t disturb us while we are working.”
“I had no idea you cared about appearances so much, Ada," Simmons chimed in as he flicked his gaze between Ada, Leon, and Patrick. "They were fleeting and can be deceiving. I thought you valued something more permanent.”
Ada huffed as she smoothly put both of her hands onto Leon’s dress shirt and adjusted his collar. “I like lots of things, especially attractive young agents - they are good prey, pretty packages with a golden heart. I am just not interested in hunting monsters though.” Leon looked down to Ada and tried his best not to put his hand around her waist instinctively. He thought Ada could see that, as her brown captivating eyes were filled with amusement.
Ada was careful not to show too much interest in Leon in front of Simmons the whole time, but the presence of the young rookie gave her a great opportunity to flirt with Leon without arousing too much suspicion from Simmons. As an opportunist, She would blame herself for not catching the lightning into a bottle.
Ada read right through Leon’s stoic face as her hands slid from his collar to flatten the cloth on his shoulder. She could see the bright shade of pink tainting his ears and the fading baby blue in his eyes, and how his heart raced under her forearms as she put her weight onto his chest.
““Do you two know each other?” Simmons stifled the impulse to separate them as he saw Ada’s half-closed eyes showed how she would like to consume the agent in front of her.
“If he saved me back in Raccoon City, I'd never forgive myself for not devouring such eye candy with a golden heart already.” She smiled wicked and victoriously as Leon cleared his throat awkwardly and she felt something pressed against her thigh.
“Miss Wong, please let us back to our work.” Leon stated again.
Ada chuckled and pulled some distance between their upper bodies. She smoothed the wrinkles she’d made on Leon’s shirt and stated. “Agent Kennedy, if you and your lovely recruit do not wish to be an eye candy, just don’t dress like one. But given your physiques, I can only wish you both good luck to find something that looks bad on you.”
Ada looked at Simmons, who was quite evidently displeased with her behavior while she was still pressed against Leon. She said, “Maybe learn something from Simmons, he knows how to cover things up well.”
“Ada!” Simmons warned.
Ada shrugged and turned her attention back to Leon, she said. “Nice meeting you both, Agent Kennedy and Agent baby-face.” She released her grip on Leon's fabric and pressed herself once again to him and bound back, then she headed right to the exit.
Leon quickly grabbed Patrick, who was still in shock, not sure if he was still enchanted by Ada or he was shocked by the information that implied in her words, and politely addressed Simmons once again. “Sir, we have to leave for our duties now. Nice meeting you again. And thank you for protecting Sherry.”
Simmons pressed his lips into a thin line while his gaze fixated on Ada, he simply waved his hand to dismiss both Leon and Patrick.
As they were heading back to the corner, Patrick eventually spoke up. “You lucky bastard.”
Leon merely raised an eyebrow, silently questioning Patrick.
“You always get the best bit of being an agent.”
Leon's brow rose further, “You mean when she treated me like a pawn? She just wants to use me to irritate Simmons.”
“She can use me however she wishes.” Patrick stated.
“Maybe that’s why she chose me over you.” Leon countered.
“How do you stay so composed when she mentioned that whole devour thing?” Patrick questioned.
Oh. He had a reaction alright. He was lucky that she showed him some mercy for letting him regain some extent of self control before she left. Leon thought.
“What on earth is wrong with you? You're always after girls who have no interest in you but get cornered by the ones who you have no interest in.” Patrick further commented.
“Story of my life.” Leon concluded with his signature of self-deprecating sarcasm.
“But she said she preferred me over you - that's something new.” Patrick asserted, still reliving the moment in his memory.
“Shut up, Patrick.” Leon commanded.