Chapter Text
Most people don’t love their jobs. Luckily for you, you are a little too into research. All throughout your undergrad and masters you interned in a few different lab positions within the government. After all, like every good researcher, you knew any real money would come from the government or private investors. Private investors could get a little too morally grey on occasion. Which had landed you in Nebraska during the summer and almost every school break. Working as a research assistant for the United States Strategic Commission aka USSTRATCOM. You were even happier when you graduated a few months ago, and they offered you a formal position as an associate field researcher. A job you knew all the ins and outs of as the previous assistant to one. In fact, even you yourself would be given an intern to help manage and learn the ropes. Which you liked to believe is what made the packed car ride to Nebraska feel that much shorter. That and the excitement of getting to see Holly.
The two of you met when you were interns. Both just 21 years old and Juniors in bioscience. You got assigned to the same lab and just hit it right off. Her boisterous laughter and genuine smile just drew you in. She was your saving grace during the lonely summers away from home. She was from the area and attending a local college. She would take you out with her friends and show you around. She was what made Nebreska feel like a real home for you. She was there for everything, like your first college breakup and now what would be your last, unless you decided to go back and get your Phd.
“How did they take it?” Holly asked, pouring you a glass of prosecco and lemonade. While the two of you sat on the floor of an empty apartment. You had gotten into town late, and the two of you were putting off moving the furniture out of the truck until tomorrow. When Holly’s brother and his friends could join you to do most of the heavy lifting. You were taking a long sip from your fresh glass. “I think they hate me now..I mean, I can’t really blame them.” You shrugged, “I am such an asshole, but now I am in another state, and that is a future me’s problem to think about.”
“A lot of people choose between their partners and their career. At least you figured it out now. You are not a bad person, because you chose your career over a college romance.” Holly tried her best to reassure you. “I know, but most people are better at communicating. They said it felt like I was just up and leaving. That I had felt like a ghost for the past few months. They knew something was up, but they said nothing the entire time.” You downed the rest of your glass. “I need to get past sad drunk and to happy drunk.” You declared while reaching for the bottle. Holly finished hers in one last swig as well. “Well, then, let us get some music going, and we can grab a couple of boxes. Decorating can be fun once you get a little tipsy.” She smiled before blasting some music on her phone. She grabbed your hand and started belting the lyrics to an old pop song. “So…I have been hiding some major news from you, Y/n. I know you start work on Monday, and it is very exciting, but it gets even better. I found out from my supervisor that we are welcoming a new team member on Monday. It has to be you! We got so lucky working in the same lab together!” She gushed as she swayed her hips a little to the beat.
Your whole face felt flushed, probably from the tiredness, the alcohol, or just the excitement of being with your closest friend. “This almost doesn’t feel real to me!” You exclaimed and rushed her into a hug. “Holly, you are the best, like literally ever. I can’t believe we are getting to do this together. I know you graduated first, but we both got our dream jobs, I got this nice, new apartment, and it all feels so familiar and foreign at the same time.” The euphoria that fell over you was like nothing you had felt before. You felt empty and new, but at ease. You weren’t searching to fill that void, but you were instead sitting with it. Knowing those needs will be fulfilled when the time comes for them to be. You finally felt like you truly were on your own.
***
Monday could not come quickly enough. You were far too excited to start your first, real job. Not an internship, not some fast food gig, and no more tutoring undergrads. This was your time to shine. You would work alongside people who were once your seniors, not as an assistant, but as their colleague. You’d handle hundreds of data samples a week, thousands of research logs, hear too many personal records, your own research to lead alongside an assistant, and, best of all, unlimited amounts of time in the lab. To some, that might seem mundane, but to you, this was an academic paradise. You dressed casually for the day and packed a small bag to supply your office. Arriving was the most boring part of the day. You had to get assigned parking, ID photo, and tag, security training, but luckily for you. You already knew all the right answers after five years of being a faithful research assistant. The perks of being an intern.
After four long hours of getting into the system as an official employee. You were finally told you’d be introduced to your team, see the lab space, and be assigned your personal office. “Since you already know your way around as a past intern. We paired you up in a lab that has some colleagues from your cohort. You are assigned to work in Biolab 7. Your office number is 7c. Your direct supervisors are the Senior Scientist, Mrs. B, and Senior Scientist Dr. Locke. It should also be printed in your welcome packet, but please let me know if you have any questions! You have the HR help email as well. Since your ID card is new, we will walk over together today to make sure it is working alright!” You nodded, “That sounds great, thank you.” Before stepping out of the room, with an added excitement to your step. She must have noticed, because she giggled a bit, “I assume you’re excited to start the job? I know all this first-day stuff can be so tedious.” The two of you had a small chat, and you were happy to see that your keycard was working after all.
“Welcome to the team, Y/n!” A small crowd of scientists shouting for a huddle in the breakroom. “The labs all have lunch together at noon, so I convinced everyone we should welcome you.” Holly smugly smiled before coming to your side. “You guys, this is Y/n! We worked in the same internship cohort! We actually worked with Jacob, if you remember him.” She announced as the crowd of 7 or so coworkers dispersed, leaving a tall, awkward white guy behind. “Hey, it is good to see you again!” He announced before awkwardly shaking your hand. You did remember him, but mostly for the mop of curly brown hair on his head and the obnoxious boyfriend he invited to karaoke one time. “It is good to see you too. I can’t believe only three of us made it from a cohort of 40 interns. This feels too good.” You whisper-yell the last part, not wanting to brag too much. Jacob nodded, “I wasn’t going to say anything, but like yeah, go us.” He whispered with a smile creeping onto his face. Holly nudged both of you, “I never doubted myself. I knew I’d make it. Seven percent chance, baby! Here we are in Lab 7.” She announced excitedly, not at all ashamed to brag. That was something you admired about Holly. She owned all her accomplishments, good or bad, you would know. “So we have 45 mins left for lunch, and there's that cafe down the road. It is good and cheap. We are going, and you’ll drive because I carpooled with Jacob.” She ordered and stuck out her tongue at you. “Can Jacob come too? I told him I’d buy him lunch.” She laughed, and you really had no reason to decline, “You’ll have to sit in the back, it is kinda a mess. So no judgment.” He smiled and nodded. He looked happy to be included.
After getting settled in, everyone was pretty quiet at first. Too focused on their lunches. It was so strange to you. This feeling of familiarity you had. You knew it was because of your internship, but this was different. You felt so optimistic. You felt like you were at the right place, at the right time, and the universe was rewarding you. “Is it kind of weird I feel like this isn’t my first day at all?” You hummed in between bites of your sandwich. “You’ve technically worked here before, so I’d say no.” Jacob replied, “It feels like a homecoming to me.” Holly smiled, “This is perfect. You can’t say no to club nights when you aren’t across the country anymore!” You faked a groan, but honestly, you weren’t even upset. You were only a weekend into being single again, but you weren’t sad. You had spent months mourning what you had and coming to terms with it. You had waited until the last minute to break up with your ex, but the decision was far from that.
“You know I could use a good club night. I haven’t gone since my ex. He ruined the club we’d go to. All his friends work there.” Jacob sighed before leaning an elbow on the table. “Oh, Jacob, we have to take you out then. Holly is a party animal.” She nodded proudly beside you, “It is true, I am, I am also the world's greatest wingman, Jacob. How come you never mentioned you liked clubbing before, hmm?” She got a little too close to him, “Because I didn’t think I really enjoyed it. Honestly, if Zack taught me anything. It is that I miss having a social life. I could just tag with him. Now I have to, like, create my own?” He laughed a bit sarcastically, “I just got out of a relationship too. So we are in the same boat, Jacob. We will have to take a shot together!” You smiled widely at him, “But please. You guys started months before me, since I had to move and stuff. I have been dying for the updated work gossip. Holly refused to tell me anything until I moved.”
“It ruins the fun!” Holly pouted before continuing, “Plus, now you can match faces to the names. Makes it easier! You won’t believe how much stuff they hide from us assistants. I never knew the researchers were so gossipy.” Jacob scoffed from beside her, “Duh, I mean leave it to the scientists to figure things out!” Holly elbowed him. “Jacob is the worst of them all! Sometimes he goes and sits in other departments' breakrooms and listens in.” Jacob gasped loudly, “I do not! I am grabbing coffee creamer!” You let out a large huff from beside them, “I am still not getting one single story or detail,” and playfully shook your head.
Which prompted an excessive amount of rambling. Most of it was petty drama. A receptionist from downstairs was mad that our boss had ignored her one time. A missing lab sample and a fired colleague. Field agents having too big egos to make the time for verbal record keeping, but also still refusing to fill out the written reports. “However, there's this one guy, pretty hot, always by himself. He never forgets his reports. Good on him.” Holly noted as Jacob perked up from his soda, “Kennedy?” “Yeah, I think so.” You raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t that it was uncommon. The field agents and field researchers work hand in hand, so you learn some names. We analyze all the data they collect. In fact, most field associates handle verbal personal records at some point. We have to review the research log for how the sample was gathered, any special circumstances, and, really, honestly, everything. We have to know or find out as much as we can about our samples. That includes working with the field agents who collect them.
“He’s sorta a ghost in the office.” Holly explained, “Like, he is a real, normal guy, I assume, but nobody ever really sees him compared to other agents. He has never given a verbal report within the 24 hours, but he has always completed his written reports on time. If not early. He is like the only field agent we don’t have to hound or report to our supervisors about reports. It is nice, but also so suspicious? Like, who is that good at their job?” She laughed, and Jacob picked up where she left off. “
I've seen him in photos, but never in the office. I think Holly met him one time, but they didn’t even talk. He just nodded, right?” He looked at her to confirm. “Yeah! I was at this meeting, and he was there! I felt like I was seeing a celebrity! He did speak during the meeting, and I tried to say hi afterwards, because I think it is good to meet all the field agents. Makes reports easier sometimes. So I tried to be funny and make a joke about him always being so on time with his stuff. He didn’t even crack a smile! Can you believe that? Just a nod. I am too hot to be receiving just a nod. I deserve a laugh.” “Maybe he just really values professionalism?” You tried to reason, but laughed a bit toward the end. “Oh, Holly, you can’t always be the office favorite.” You teased, “Speaking of, we need to go, I can’t be late for decorating my brand new office.” You said all too seriously while herding them out of the door.
***
The next couple of months went by like a blur. You got settled into your small, windowless office, and fewer people could say they like their job as much as you. Especially after getting assigned your first project. You were to study a few samples from a region in Spain. Thought to be taken from animals experiencing a parasitic infection. Your goal was to determine if the infection was man-made or naturally occurring and go from there. There was suspicion of it being a lab-grown infection gone wrong. So far, all of your time has been spent going through pages and pages of records in your office. You had some light music playing and pretended your lamp was the sunlight leaking through.
Most of the reports were supposed sightings, recorded instances, and a few field reports. The samples were supposed to be collected within the next two weeks. So until then, all you could do was try to prepare yourself for collection and analysis. This was when the honeymoon period of your new job began to fade. It had been hours of going through reports and audio logs, but you felt like none had given you anything solid. Maybe you just weren’t processing the information. You weren’t sure. Your first deadline is just one week from now. You had to summarize and gather a report on any data you could find involving the substance. However, most of it was guesswork at best.
When it came to how they sorted and compiled these logs. It was mostly either by agent or by trip. However, the trip numbers often meant nothing to the researchers. The field researchers were on a strict need-to-know basis. It was part of your contract when signing on. You don’t get to talk about your projects to people outside of your lab. Nor do you get much information about what extractions the field agents go on. You are just told what to look for in the samples. How and what they want you to analyze, and unlimited access to any research logs and recordings within your lab. Each lab is treated like a separate entity. Which sounds shady, sure. Who’s to say it isn’t, because it is the government afterall. However, you knew your job. You trusted that you were saving lives and not ending them.
You heard a knock on your door and the creak of it coming open. “Heyyy, Jacob and I were thinking of grabbing some drinks after work. You gonna join us?” Holly semi-shouted as she took some loud over-the-head headphones off her ears. You looked at the clock on your desk and sighed. On Fridays, those on a salary could leave early at 4 p.m., but you often chose to stay. You had a sometimes too-strong work ethic, and today, it was not playing around. “No, Holly, I’ve really, really got to get an idea on this, before Monday. This feels like grad school.” You pouted, slouching into your office chair and rubbing your forehead. “I think I need to get some blue light glasses or something.”
“Oh, this is terrible. It is Friday. I did not see you in the breakroom at lunch. Have you left this office since 6 a.m.?” She demanded, and you shook your head before grabbing a soda can out of the minifridge under your desk. “I have everything I need here. Including the work I need to get done. Tell Jacob to drink one for me.” You reasoned before getting up. “I will walk you out the door and say hi, though. Did you carpool today?” Holly nagged you the whole way out to the car about being too much of a workaholic. Jacob tried his best to convince you to stay, but you had a strong will. You knew you’d be too anxious all weekend if you did not get a good start on it. After getting back to your office and settling, the time seemed to fly. You drank two bitter pre-made iced coffees and turned your phone off for the time being. The office was eerily quiet. Usually, through your door, you could hear occasional footsteps and chatter. Mostly what sounded like muffled noise, but it was nice when paired with some soft music in the background. You did a quick check to make sure no one else was in your immediate area before playing your music a bit louder than usual. Humming and singing along now and then as you typed away.
A few hours passed, the sun went down, and you hadn’t had any dinner. Your stomach was yelling at you to eat, and your water bottle needed to be refilled anyway. You slowly creaked open the office door and grabbed your headphones. You knew, logically, you were allowed to stay late for work if needed. All of the field researchers had 24-hour access to their labs and offices. It could be a demanding job. Sometimes projects had harsh deadlines, or samples could be compromised. You always felt like you were somehow still breaking the rules. Like a security guard would come around any second now. Shine a bright flashlight and ask you why you were here. However, there were no other sounds but your footsteps and muffled music coming from your headphones. The break room was your first stop. You checked the cabinets for something good, but usually the office snack budget was pretty small. Most of it went toward those stupid coffee machine pods and overly processed snack foods. Tonight, you were craving something fresh. Something with fruits or veggies. As you rifled through Holly’s lunchbox in the fridge, you found some leftover pretzels and hummus. You shot her a quick text asking if you could bring her a replacement on Monday. You knew she wouldn’t see it, but you also knew she wouldn’t mind if you stole it.
As you were walking back towards your office, you were thinking back on your time with USSTRATCOM as an intern. You and Holly would always complain about the office not having good snacks. Could a fruit bowl really hurt their pockets that badly? When you remembered that upstairs they had nicer offices and nice breakrooms for the higher-ups. Most people would need a keycard to access the elevator and could only select the floors they had access to. The labs were all in the basement, and your offices in the lower floor. Giving you access only to floors 02-3. However, when you were an intern, you remembered sneaking into those rooms with Holly after hours. If you took the stairs, the keycard access was a bit shifty. Sometimes you could get into rooms and floors you weren't supposed to. No one was here, and you were feeling a bit curious, bored, and hungry.
The stairwell felt eerie all by yourself. There is always something unnerving about being alone in a big building. You instinctively turned your music up a few notches. Bopping your head to the beat as you walked up a few flights to floor 5 at a leisurely pace. You worked out on occasion. You and Holly went to the gym together 2-3 times a week, but you mostly just walked on the treadmill and gossiped. The stair machine was your enemy, and these five flights did not feel easy. It was now standing at the door of the fifth floor. You felt ridiculous. You weren't some stupid college kid anymore. You felt grown in this moment for both the bad and the good. What you were doing felt a bit childish, and maybe it was a bit silly. You were sure Holly would get a good laugh out of it when you told her on Monday.
Your face felt a little hot, and you tapped your key card. Smiling a little too widely when the light turned green. You opened the door slowly and as quietly as you could. Trying to scan the room as fast as possible while the automatic lights turned on at the new wave of motion in the room. You breathed a sigh of relief and admired the office area. It was nice. Too nice even. Almost all of the offices had frosty glass doors and exteriors. Some of the desks had plush leather chairs, and others had those weird desk treadmills. Large rectangular windows lined the walls leading to an open lounge area with plenty of seating and a homestyle office kitchen. On a tall, sleek table, you had your eye on the prize. A bowl of ripe-looking fruit, and your stomach growled. You were so sure you were alone. You looked around for a light switch and dimmed the kitchen lights. The soft lighting in the room made it feel more comfortable. Less like you were alone in an office building. So you pulled a plate out, grabbed a napkin, and happily peeled an orange. You were looking out of a giant window toward a busy road. Thinking about all the people who were out on a Friday night. While you were stealing fruit from a different department, that probably made double or triple your salary.
When you saw a silhouette in the glass reflection. You slowly pulled an earbud from your ear and turned around. Afraid it was a ghost, an intruder, or worse, someone in a high position who didn’t want some random person in their office fruit bowl. You were trying to quickly swallow your bite and wiped a lab coat sleeve on your cheek. “Come up here for a snack?” It was now that you really looked at the person in front of you. He was in plain black tactical gear and had an obvious gun holster on his hip. You were trying to scan his jacket for any sign of an ID tag. Something to give you a hint of who you were talking to, but nothing. Your mind was blank, and you were too embarrassed to think. You couldn’t tell if he was making some sarcastic comment or if he was asking a genuine question. You cleared your throat. “Uh-yeah.” It came out so awkwardly that you wanted to bolt out of the room. “Sorry, I thought the office was empty. Mine is downstairs. I wanted fruit.” At first, he looked confused, but a small smile was on his lips, and he looked amused. Meanwhile, you felt like a child being caught stealing candy. “How did you even get in here?” He asked before taking a seat across from you at the table. Fiddling with the fruit bowl before pulling out an apple. “When I was an intern, I would sneak up here sometimes. You guys need to get the key card fixed in the stairwell.” You admitted before shoving an orange slice in your mouth. “Interesting.” He replied, and you swore there was some snark in his tone.
This felt like it was not real. You did not expect to see anyone. Why was he having a seat? It was now that you tried to get a good look at him and hopefully his key card too. It wasn’t pinned on the shirt he was wearing. Which felt a little too revealing if you looked for too long. He was in great shape. You could tell from the way the sleeves hugged his biceps and from the outline of his pecs underneath. He was painfully handsome. You told yourself it had to be his hair. You couldn’t tell if his hair was dirty blonde or light brown in this lighting, but it didn’t really matter. It was a little longer in the front with some pieces framing his face. A little messy at the moment, like he ran his hands through it too many times. His eyes were a shade of blue that reminded you of a flower you’d seen, but couldn’t remember the name of. You were trying to remember the name of that flower when he cleared his throat.
“I don’t see your key tag.” You noted while quickly looking away. You were staring; you felt like he knew. Like he could tell you found him attractive, and that was terrifying. This was not typical for you. You weren’t the instant attraction type. It was something Holly teased you about, but that was that. It would take you hours at the club to decide if someone was the right choice for the night, but even rarer you actually went home with someone. You were even pickier about dating. A lot of that was just in the background for you. Here in this moment, though, it was right in front of you. An undeniable attraction to someone you don’t know. That was terrifying. You motioned to your own key tag and introduced yourself. “Technically, I started here a few months ago, but to me, I’ve been here for a couple of years. I interned here throughout my undergrad and master's program.” You didn’t feel the need to announce your title, because it was clearly next to your name on your badge.
“You spent all of that time in the labs?” He asked, and you nodded. “I’m a specialized field agent. Leon Kennedy.” He stated it very matter-of-factly. He had a sense of pride in his work. Like he knew he was doing well, and that made him satisfied. Like most lab researchers, you weren’t really sure what field agents did. They collected samples for the lab, sure, but often the why was left out. The research is often a result of their mission, but not the cause in most cases. Specialized. Now that was unique. It meant he was pretty high-ranking. Probably why he was in this office to begin with. You tried to imagine what sort of things he would do at work. Fighting some foreign force for the government? Some parasitic infection breaks out, and he is deployed to control it? You didn’t know, but the one thing you did was. You weren’t supposed to ask. In the same way, he couldn’t ask you what you were researching. Unless he got assigned to the project somehow. You secretly crossed your fingers and hoped that maybe he’d show up in your department someday.
When the realization hit, this was the Leon Kennedy. The one Jacob and Holly were fawning and gossiping over. In that moment, you felt special. Knowing Holly cracked a joke at him and barely got a nod. You were getting a conversation. You noted the bragging rights you’d have on Monday. “Yes, all of my time has been spent in the labs. Unless late-night snack runs count. It’s not my fault you guys get the good stuff up here. All we have down there is over-processed junk food.” You pouted, but knew deep down, like most people, you liked those snacks. As much as you tried to be healthy, it was often convenient and could be great if you were in the mood. “I skipped dinner to work on my presentation. So I am probably just being crabby.” You chucked before grabbing another orange out of the bowl and beginning to peel it. He had just finished cutting up the apple from across from you. “Want half?” He asked, and for some reason, your heart melted. You smiled a little too widely and happily accepted half. “Thanks. So, I assume your office is up here? Or did you have a meeting? I actually don’t know if field agents get offices now that I think about it.” You pondered before snacking off your plate. You offered him some orange slices, but he declined.
“We do have offices, but mine isn’t all the way up here. I was up here for a late-night meeting and then stayed late in a friend's office to do some reports.” As he responded, you swore for a moment he was taking you in. Not just some glance or observation, but he was looking at you. You hoped the same way you saw him. “Ah, got some friends in high places. Friends who have access to free fruit bowls.” You laughed and were a bit surprised when he did too. He was not as stoic as Holly made him seem. You wondered if her joke was ill-worded, or maybe it was around his boss or something. You weren’t sure. “You know you are actually a bit of a legend in my office. Or at least that is what my colleagues told me.” You hummed, and he seemed curious. “You’ve never done a verbal field report. All of yours are written and always on time. You’ve got a great work ethic, Leon. Or maybe you’re a workaholic with too much work ethic.”
“Seems like you are too. I don’t really find anyone else in this office past 6 p.m.” You didn’t really know what else to say. You wondered if he really was this lone wolf character you felt like your colleagues made him out to be. “I should probably head back to my office soon. Or better yet, home.” You gathered up your things, and Leon nodded like he should do the same. “Me too.” A silence fell over as you were deciding whether or not to take the elevator back down. You didn’t want to have that awkward part ways, but go the same way out the door thing. You were scrolling to pick the right music for the way back when Leon cleared his throat. “Are you taking the elevator or the stairs? I’ll just head out with you.” You couldn’t help but smile. Problem solved. “Up to you.” He shook his head and tsk’d at you. Almost like he had some snarky comment to say, but was choosing to bite his tongue. You wished he would say it. “Stairs it is.”
“So, what floor is your office on then?” You were far too curious about him. You weren’t sure if it was the attraction or if it was your usual persistent questions. A trait hated or loved by your friends. You could get a bit carried away sometimes. Too curious and not always conscious of what is socially acceptable to ask. It kept you driven in your work, but could occasionally hurt your social life. “Floor three. You want the tour?” The smile on his lips was cocky. Like he thought he was so smart for that remark. Your stomach did flips, because all you could think of was how he wanted to keep talking to you. “Sure, but I doubt it will compare to any of the offices we just saw. I don’t know about you, but I would kill for a window.” He gave a low chuckle and tapped his key card. “That’s why you shouldn’t get a job in a basement.”
“I should’ve gone for environmental science. That’s a lie. I enjoy bio research. Do you like your job?” This floor was far different from any one you’d seen before. First was a breezeway from the stairwell. Complete with a metal detector and full body scan. A small window to the left led to a small operator room to unlock the large, tall metal doors in front of you. Leon waved to the operator, and the two of you passed through despite the beeping of the machine. “It has its perks, but I wouldn’t really say I had many other career choices.” You felt a strong urge to pry. “Please elaborate.” He seemed surprised you asked. “Top secret.” You scoffed as the two of you entered a large, empty hallway lined with windowless doors that were spaced far apart. Leon stepped ahead of you to the right. “Now you can’t get too jealous of the view.”