Chapter Text
If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
TAKE A CHANCE ON ME (ABBA, 1978)
After a night of heavy rain in early summer, the air became balmy, floating with the scent of plants and drizzle.
The bus of Wesker Ballet Company had arrived in Racoon City late last night. According to the schedule, Ada Wong, the newly promoted principal dancer, should appear in the rehearsal hall in 30 minutes, which meant she should be preparing for clothes and footwears by now. However, she was just standing alone by the lake outside the theater, staring at the calm water.
She had been working hard to win this position, hadn’t she? So where did her motivation go? Tonight, she would be showing up on the stage both as the swan queen, Odette, and the black swan, Odile. It should be a tiring but important day for her.
Eyes closed. The infamous tyrant director Albert Wesker’s face appeared in her mind.
Frowning, she bowed her head in annoyance.
“Hey, uh, excuse me?”
Lifting her lids, a young man with golden hair rushed into her sight. His hair was gleaming in flashed, so bight that she could see it through sunglasses. He wore a baggy T-shirt, carrying a backpack that strapped tightly around his shoulders. He looked like a schoolboy running to attend some summer camp.
“Better not waste your time on the road, boy. Or you’ll be late for school.” She smirked.
“Thanks for the reminder but I’m not some schoolboy. I’m with the RPD, in the Police Department.” The young man straightened up, puffing a little.
“I’m on my way to work and run into you, a young lady who stands alone by the lake in such an early hour, and wears a wind coat even in summer. Is something off? I’m not trying to overstep the bounder but I’m more than happy to help if you’ll let me.”
His eyes were serious but caring, falling upon her. They were blue or green? She couldn’t figure it out. And that face? Such naivety and sincereness.
“Madame, are you ok? You’re staring…”
All of a sudden, her expression broke into a heartly chuckle.
“Oh boy, you weren’t thinking that I’m trying to throw myself into the lake, were you? “ She tried to contain the laughter but failed, “That’s very kind of you but I’m just resting my eyes and enjoying the scenery.”
“Oh, is that so. Well, it just made me worried a little.” The young man awkwardly smiled, scratching the back of his head, “I’m new to this city, too. Sorry I can’t recommend you some other sightseeing spots here. Sorry for that, I mean…”
He found himself loss of words. Lifting his head, he managed to continue speaking.
“Umm…You have beautiful raven hair, you know…”
His clumsy words made her laugh even harder. Her body was so puffed with joy that the sunglasses fell off and crashed onto the ground.
“Your sunglasses! Here, let me…” He bended over to pick it up for her.
Rising up, his eyes bumped into hers.
His eyes are as blue as I thought. She said to herself.
God her face is delicate as a china doll. He thought.
“Name’s Leon Kennedy.” He handed over the sunglasses to her, “You know you can always find me in the RPD, just mention my name to them. And I’m going on patrolling around the theater area. You can find me near here, too.”
“Name’s Ada, Ada Wong.” She took the sunglasses, still lost in his eyes, “I work in…”
A shock of thunder crashed through her spine. If that Wesker found she was interacting with some male outside the ballet company, what could happen?
“Ada, what’s wrong? You look pale.” He leaned in.
“Sorry, but I’ve got to go to work.” She grasped her coat tightly around and turned away, quickly running off sight.
ADA’S POV
“Hey look who we’ve got here!” Upon stepping into the rehearsal hall, Ada became surrounded by group of dancers. Luis Serra, her dancing partner, was the first in line.
“Congratulations to our new Swan Queen!” Luis cheered aloud, “Congratulations to me, too! To the new Prince Siegfried!”
“Thank you, guys.” Ada answered with a gentle smile. Yes, she worked hard to be the principal dancer. Nothing could go wrong with her role. Everything would work out just fine.
“You won’t disappoint me tonight on stage, will you, Ada Wong?” Their director Wesker came forward in a low but threatening voice. He glanced around the hall as dancers fell into silence.
“Dancers, I want you to know that our major patron, Derek C. Simmons will be watching our Swan Lake here tonight. “ Wesker turned his face to Ada abruptly, “No mistakes on the stage of our first performance in Racoon City.”
Then the morning class began as usual. Plie, tendu, jete...
Everything will turn out just fine.
LEON’S POV
“Kennedy! Goodness you’re late again!” Marvin turned around, only to see the rookie standing in front of him without the uniform on.
“If you keep doing this, we’ll see what will happen to your salary this month.”
“Yes yes. I’ll keep that in mind.” Leon smiled shamelessly, bowing his head a little. Ada was still lingering on his mind.
“So, everyone is here. Let me explain an important assignment we have this month.”
As people gathered around, Marvin began to distribute leaflets to the officers.
“The world-famous Wesker Ballet Company has arrived in Racoon City yesterday and tonight; it will be their first performance. This is a big event to the city and dominant figures will show up as well. The company will stay here for 3 weeks. Huge amounts of audience will gather around the city theater area during this period, which means we must mind the security and prepare to work overtime… Leon, are you listening?”
Leon was suddenly being dragged out of his thoughts as he gripped on the leaflet in his hand. Some information on it had caught his attention:
WESKER BALLET COMPANY PRESENTS
SWAN LAKE
PRINCIPAL DANCER: ADA WONG
Crowds of people came and went. Laughers. Cheers. The Ballet Company’s arrival attracted audience from every corner of the city.
But none of this mattered to Leon. The images on the leaflet couldn’t let go of his mind.
“Ada will be dancing in the center of the stage. What will she look like in the dance costume? Will she look like a real swan?”
He looked up into the mid-air, trying desperately to imagine Ada’s dancing figure. Alas he knew almost nothing about Ballet. He made a note to himself that he must know about it soon.
“Don’t forget your mission, rookie.” Marvin’s voice brutally dragged him into the reality, “There are too many people here. Don’t get distracted.”
“Yes, sir.” Leon was still at loss.
If his mission was to stand outside the theater, facing the crowds, how could he see what Ada looked like when she danced?
Gradually, people outside the theater became fewer and fewer. They were so lucky to have the chance to see Ada’s performance with their own eyes. Unlike the poor Leon S. Kennedy, who could only imagine it through some photos on the leaflets and posters, along with the music risen behind him.
ADA’S POV
On the stage, Prince Siegfried found himself cheated by the evil Rothbart and the black swan, Odile. In the flashes of thunders, the father and the daughter escaped the palace complacently, leaving the foolish prince behind.
Ada finally let out her breath as she stepped behind the curtains. But now was not the time to rest. She had to change into the white swan Odette as soon as possible.
“You never disappoint me, Ada Wong.” The patron, Simmons, appeared by the entrance of dressing room with a satisfied smile.
“I knew I’ve made the right decision.”
Sighing, Ada turned around to push the door closed: “Thanks but I should change now. Please, if you’re kind…”
“Alright, alright. I’ll give you some privacy.” Simmons put up his hands in retreat, “I hope to see our beautiful white swan queen later.”
Just as Ada closed the door, Simmons stopped it halfway, staring at her through the gap.
“Well, however the prince tries to win the white swan back, she will eventually be owned by Rothbart, won’t she?”
Ada rolled her eyes, turning her back to him as the door closed with a thud.
Waves of applause. Warm stage light cast upon her. Ada paid reverence to the audience with Luis Serra at her side, beaming at her.
“We did this!” He gave her a bear hug in sheer excitement.
Yeah, tonight was the start of their great expectations.
“To my beautiful swan queen.” With a bouquet of roses, Simmons stepped on the stage, standing in front of her, blocking her eyesight to the audience, casting a long shadow over her.
“You flattered me.” Ada’s eyes slightly dropped downwards, receiving the flowers.
In the final moment, Luis took Ada’s hand in his as they bowed to the audience.
Then curtains were put down.
But Ada still felt Simmons’ stare burning on her back.
LEON’S POV
Leon was about to fall asleep leaning on the wall. His mission had done as it had been quite a long time since the audience left the theater. The temperature was getting colder, the environment quieter. He could even hear the crickets singing serenade to their loved ones.
What was he waiting for?
Well, the swan queen must return to her nest when the story ended.
So as long as he kept waiting, Ada would walk out of the theater with a triumphal smile. He couldn’t miss the chance to congratulate.
Laughers, whistles, rustling sounds of costumes. Then it was the sound of the door opening. Rows of dancers came out of the theater.
Leon was startled at first and opened his eyes wide. Where is Ada? All ballet dancers looked alike with their makeups on. Large, shadowed eyes, glistening decorations, long limbs.
There she was! The beautiful woman with a bouquet of roses in her arms. Leon recognized her by her iconic bob haircut. Also, she deserved the flowers more than anyone else, because she was the principal dancer, the swan queen.
“Ada!”
“Leon?” Ada was doubted at the voice, but as the rookie reached out to her, she could not hold her eyes back anymore. She held up her head, watching him surprisingly.
“Why are you still here? It’s getting late.”
“I’m on duty and I’m in charge of the theater area.” Leon swallowed the words “I’m waiting for you” into his belly as he scratched his head nervously.
“And I was…listening to your dance. It was beautiful, really…”
His blushing face gave away his sheepishness.
And his words? That’s the cutest comment she’d ever heard about when it came to dancing,
“How did you manage to ‘listen’ my dancing?” She tried to hold back her laughter but failed.
“Oh, Leon, you’re so…”
“Ridiculous?”
“Cute, I must say.” She raised her chin to meet his gaze.
Leon’s blue eyes were reflecting the moonlight, twinkling like stars above.
“Ada…”
They melted in to each other’s eyes in silence.
“Hey, Ada! I think you just…” Luis appeared behind her without noticing.
“Dear Lord! If it isn’t Leon Kennedy, my old schoolmate?”
Luis’ voice was so loud that the duo broke apart in shock. Rose petals scattered onto the ground.
“Oh, hi, Luis. Didn’t expect seeing you here.” Leon was surprised to see the once care-free schoolboy Luis had become a professional dancer.
If so, did Luis dance with Ada every day? Lucky boy!
“Sorry, if you’ll excuse me…” As if something occurred to her, Ada’s gaze became shattered and hesitated. She turned to the direction of the other dancers, practically ran way.
“Ada…!” Leon’s eyes followed her and reached out, only to be snapped down by Luis.
“Bro, you should be thankful that she left before some other ones discover you.”
Luis warned him in a low voice, “Soon our tyrant boss and the grand patron will come out from this door. If that evil Wesker finds out his principal ballerina is talking to a stranger, an intruder, a distraction, her career in this company is done.”
“Why? That’s toxic.”
“Ha! That’s the open secret of our world-famous Wesker Dance Company. That man refused any personal feelings affecting his pure art world.”
“So that’s why Ada left hurriedly…” Leon muttered, watching her direction.
“But I’m still happy to see ya here!” Luis’ stern face turned into a grin, “Wanna chat about old times with your old schoolmate? I’ve seen your uniform. You become a policeman, that’s so cool!”
???’S POV
Art is about solitude and purity. If mundane affairs broke into art itself, the art is inevitably ruined.
“Mr. Simmons, what do you think about the performance?”
“I know what you mean. I’m a man who keeps his words.”
“Then, thank you for your generousness.”
“However, about the new Prince…”
“Luis Serra?”
“I cannot be satisfied with him and Ada.”
“I understood.”
“Remember that ‘Simon’ boy? I have high expectations on him.”
Silence filled the corridor.
“Your opinion will be considered.”