Work Text:
She thought that leaving the island would clear her mind after what had happened with Leon, but seeing that water scooter brought all those thoughts back at the speed of light.
Her mission was simple: recover Los Iluminados darkest secret. For a skilled and agile spy like her, it should have been easy and without too many complications. It was to meet up with Luis, escort him, and eliminate any threats that got in their way.
But what seemed like a walk in the park turned out to be a thrill ride of emotions.
Inside the helicopter, she finally had a moment to think clearly about what had happened. If fate had caused that water scooter to continue unlocking her memories with him, then she would have to face them now. After all, she was in a safe place to lay all her cards on the table.
Right now, she wasn't interested in the Plaga, or even if Wesker was going to put a price on her head because of her betrayal. Those were things not to worry about. She only thought about the boy she had betrayed, loved, and helped fulfill his mission.
He hadn't changed; she was sure of that. She was even able to tell him so; he could look all tough and strong, but he was still that naive rookie police officer she had met six years ago in Raccoon City. Regardless of the training he might have had, he was still the same Leon S. Kennedy with whom she had had an adventure full of adrenaline and passion.
As the helicopter strayed from its original course, the water scooter was already beginning to disappear from Ada's view. At least she was sure that, as far as Leon was concerned, it was mission accomplished. It was incredible how he never gave up on Ashley, even when she had the Plaga at advanced stages.
He was as capable as she was.
She knew that his path had not been easy either. Rescuing the president's daughter was no walk in the park, especially knowing that he had to face Los Iluminados and old faces from the past, including hers. She didn't know if Leon would be reevaluating everything after that mission, but there was no doubt that if it hadn't been for her, he would probably be dead.
Ada was still confused about her actions. Even though she knew he was practically an obstacle to her mission, she decided to give him a hand in his search. Just for old times' sake, she said.
She had saved his life several times, and at that point she couldn't deny that he was something... “special” to her. She never had the strength to put her finger on the trigger when they met again, nor did she hesitate to help him when he was about to die at the hands of Mendez. She could have let him die in the town square, but she decided to give him a hand by ringing the bell.
“Leon.”
Her mission had changed. It was no longer to escort Luis, but to protect Leon. It was no longer just to recover the sample, but to ensure that this rookie police officer fulfilled his main objective. She felt she owed him a favor, especially after six years of not seeing each other.
She whispered his name as memories continued to bounce around in her head. Spies were notorious for being cold and precisely calculating, trained to show no emotion in almost any situation. But it seemed that Leon had found a vulnerable spot in her.
And she didn't have to wonder how he knew. They had kissed; they had a story, even though it was clouded by mistrust and lies. They had spent two nights together in critical situations, but it was enough time to get to know each other on a meaningful level.
He knew her weaknesses, and she knew his.
As she looked outside from her seat, she did something she never thought she would do. She touched her lips.
Leon was practically the only guy she ever kissed. And luckily for her, it was a kiss that, despite everything, she ended up liking. She thought it would be a one-night memory, but when she saw him again in Spain, her lips tasted the sweet flavor of his mouth once more. She didn't just remember Raccoon City for how horrible the place had been, but also because it was the city where she met someone who could clearly understand her.
Of course, if understanding her meant knowing her crazy goals and understanding the bosses she worked for.
“Thanks for being a good boy.” Ada smiled as she played with the Amber sample.
For a moment, she wanted to tell the pilot to follow the path of the water scooter that had passed before their eyes a few moments ago. But it wasn't necessary for her to follow it. Leon was following the danger just as she was. One way or another, they would meet again. Perhaps as rivals, or perhaps as allies. But they would see each other again.
Besides, she now had another priority. To figure out what to do with the sample she had in her hands.
“Can you tell me exactly where we're headed?”
The pilot was flying blind. He had no idea where the new LZ was, nor did he have clear orders on what to do next. Ada and Wesker had argued from what he could hear, but there was nothing he could do at that moment.
The most he could do was wait for orders from his new superior, who had convinced him at gunpoint. He hadn't done anything wrong by asking; after all, he needed a place to land and prevent the helicopter from running out of fuel.
He received no response from Ada. She continued to play with the sample while smiling outside the window.
The pilot sighed. He continued flying until the radar showed land, far from key locations for Wesker. He decided not to say another word. Not because he was afraid of a bullet, but because Ada seemed lost in her own world and he didn't want to interrupt her.
And he was right. She was now in a world where Leon was with her, and where they could finally live in peace after exterminating all the hell Umbrella had caused the world.