𝕃𝕖𝕠𝕟 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕕 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕒𝕥, coughing a few times before he saw both Gideon’s gaze and his retreating form. Yeah, this felt right. He needed to keep his family away from this madman. But even as the edges of his mind remembered that, he couldn’t fully remember the purpose of his mission. Another +

… ℂ𝕠𝕡𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕕𝕠𝕟𝕦𝕥𝕤…

"𝑾𝒆'𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌, 𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏. 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓." ▪︎ - Literate & Descriptive - Ships With Chem. - Written By V - MDNI / Age In Bio - MV / MS

𝕊𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕪… 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕟𝕖𝕖𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕖 𝕤𝕒𝕗𝕖. Leon gripped his head, blood still on his palm as he grunted. “Needs to be safe. Victor, I can’t, she…” He then lurched forward, grabbing the collar of the doctor as he met his eyes. The control fought hard, but his heart was stronger this time. “… fuck you!”

ℂ𝕠𝕗𝕗𝕖𝕖. “Let’s reconvene. There’s a coffee shop nearby the base. We can talk later.” A tentative question on the other line. “Dr. Gideon? Yeah, I…” The plan. His mind cleared for only a second as he gripped the phone tightly. It cracked. “Nevermind. I got it handled.” Leon broke the phone +

𝕀 𝕞𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥. But you should kick that habit. I heard smoking makes you unattractive.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕥𝕒𝕜𝕖𝕟 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕝𝕪, punching the number in. It was a temporary one, in the case Leon ever lost contact. “Hey,” he said on the other line. The voice heard from the speaker was the sound of a relieved friend, followed by a series of questions. “I’m fine, Sherry. Just got caught up in +

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕤 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕔𝕜 𝕙𝕚𝕞 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕝𝕕 𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕣. “I don’t need anyone to look after me,” Leon argued, frown evident as he began to sit back down on the bed. Somehow, his head was throbbing like crazy at the mention of Sherry. She definitely needed to be called. She was still sick— Leon’s eyes widened. +

“𝔸 𝕟𝕖𝕨 𝕕𝕒𝕨𝕟. Like I haven’t heard that before.” Leon leaned against the wall as he examined the other odd person before him. These clones were starting to look too alike. “Okay Zeno-Al. Either way, you’re gonna have to come with me. I’ve got orders to watch for suspicious individuals.”

“𝕊𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕪?” The familiar name made Leon furrow his brows, snapping out of it for the moment. He needed to talk to Sherry. Right. He was on a mission to retrieve a specific person, and he needed to speak to her. The doctor was right. “Yeah… I remember. I should report to her about my mission +

𝕐𝕖𝕒𝕙? I think we’re also past complaining about my drunk antics. But you know, you do you.

𝔸𝕤 𝕚𝕗 𝕠𝕟 𝕔𝕦𝕖, one of the pods popped open as a figure began to crawl out of it. Leon swung his aim toward the moving figure. “Stay still! Put your hands up!” Whatever left the pod looked… dead. It barely even acknowledged Leon’s command as it began to slowly walk toward them. “Last warning!”

𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣. There’s a little extra interest too. Incentive for doing this again for me in the future.

ℍ𝕖 𝕤𝕞𝕚𝕣𝕜𝕖𝕕. “That you’re a bit sensitive when it comes to your work. Which is, by the way, highly illegal.” Leon crossed his arms, leaning against the one door that would exit this room. “Care to tell me what it is you’re doing, Al? Or was it Zeno?”

𝔸𝕨𝕨, 𝕟𝕠 𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥? No wonder this country’s going to shit…

“ℍ𝕞𝕞, 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕖? Only difference is that he had a little something right…” he pointed to his left eye and made a circle with his finger. “But I guess you must be the other one. Al, wasn’t it? Sherry mentioned you.”

𝕀 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕕𝕣𝕦𝕟𝕜.

ℍ𝕖𝕪 𝕪𝕠𝕦. You remind me of someone else. Your twin maybe? @rightfulgod.bsky.social

𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤. For some reason, he couldn’t really see the issue. He was supposed to be here to stop someone from doing something. The confusion was all over his face as he grasped his head and looked down at himself. Was he captured? But he wasn’t tied up. “…sure you’re+

𝕐𝕠𝕦’𝕧𝕖 𝕘𝕠𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕖 𝕗𝕦𝕔𝕜𝕚𝕘𝕟 𝕛𝕠𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘.

𝔻𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕣𝕪, I’ll smash your face in too.

ℍ𝕚𝕤 𝕖𝕪𝕖𝕤 𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕕. The days had began to bleed together now, and long had he forgotten the reason for his capture. If he was supposed to be here if at all. Because why would Leon want to stay if this wasn’t really what he wanted? The gaze turned to Gideon, eyes calm yet, with a +

ㅤ This is how he spends Sundays in the hospital garden. ㅤ

𝕃𝕖𝕠𝕟 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕖𝕥𝕖𝕝𝕪 𝕚𝕘𝕟𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕚𝕤𝕖, already eating the food without complaint. He had worse; and this wasn’t going to be the worst he’s had. After the meal, he found himself exhausted again. Why, after sleeping all day, he was still tired was confusing. Sleep eventually did come. And he nearly +

𝕎𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕒 𝕙𝕚𝕤𝕤, the lid popped open. And inside was… It was dead. Or something close to it. Leon couldn’t tell if it was breathing or just his eyes. “… shit,” he muttered. “They’re all like this…?” Steadying his gun, he began further into the lab. “… hey expert. What do you think?”

𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕒 𝕧𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕥 𝕒𝕥 𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕤𝕥. But something else won out in the end. Whatever it was, Leon still made his choice. “Please.” Golden irises looked back from tired and dark eyes. Maybe in that one moment, he was back when he was a young cop again asking for reprieve after Raccoon.

𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕. That wasn’t a term he heard since President Benford. He relaxed even more so to the compliment. “Yes,” he addressed with a light nod. With years of exhaustion and missions, it was nice to have someone actually make food for him. Leon glanced at the tray. “Permission to…eat?”

ℍ𝕚𝕤 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕖𝕝𝕥𝕖𝕕 with only a touch. His head staring at the ceiling pulled a muscle in him that forced his throat to clog. Leon froze before relaxing. “Just… wanted to stand,” he murmured, though clearly unconsciously. It wasn’t good to keep someone sitting too long after all. “Need to+

“𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕕𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕗𝕦𝕔𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕞𝕖.” Although he hated the concept of being controlled (an old government opinion he’s had for years), the request for the chair was oddly easy to comply with. He flexed his hands, weighing the options. Yeah, no. Going after Gideon now would not be wise. +

“… 𝕪𝕖𝕒𝕙. 𝕄𝕒𝕪𝕓𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕣𝕖 𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥.” Leon sighed as he leaned against the wall. He really looked like he was back in the same nightmare he was in. Bleak was his gaze as he stared almost past her. “But wake me up. I… don’t know how long I can stay asleep.” If he could even sleep.

“𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕀’𝕞 𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕡𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖,” Leon snapped back. He stood up straight. Last time he tried a direct attack at him, Gideon choked him. This time, however, Leon kept his distance. His dark eyes narrowed as he watched the doctor approach. “Last chance, doc. Let the girl go and maybe I’ll play nice.”

ℕ𝕠𝕥 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕞𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕠 𝕕𝕠… Leon watched Gideon like a hawk until he left the room. Immediately, he began to tug at his restraints, finally. The rope was weak around this area. With a grunt, Leon began to meddle with the knot. Sure, he knew how to undo all kinds, but it was different blind.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕖𝕣 𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕚𝕖 remained silent. He only kept on going down the rows, trying to count. He stopped after ten. “… what the hell,” Leon murmured, trying to look at the bodies. They were still, as if not breathing. Like they were encased in ice. “… help me get this cover open.”

𝕃𝕖𝕠𝕟 𝕤𝕔𝕠𝕗𝕗𝕖𝕕, 𝕘𝕝𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝕒𝕥 𝕙𝕚𝕞. “Please. Now stop fucking with me.” There was a clear and distinct effort from the man to avoid the sense of calm. Leon could already sense that there was something wrong with him, but not enough to call it out. “Maybe you don’t need to eat but I do.”

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕚𝕟 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕖𝕪𝕖𝕤 quite literally met with Gideon’s in both literal and figurative ways. “… with permission,” The agent answered, expression completely relaxed. Almost pliant, especially when the weight of his head allowed itself to be guided by the scientist’s hand. Leon was eerily calm. +

𝕃𝕖𝕠𝕟 𝕗𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕕 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕝𝕪, gun lowered but the flashlight higher. It looked like a horror movie with mad scientists. Leon moved the light to see the amount of them. “…they look like they’re… sleeping?” He murmured in confusion, frowning. Leon went to the pod, knocking on it. “Hey! Wake up!”

𝕃𝕖𝕠𝕟 𝕤𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕨𝕖𝕣. “Exactly. It’s something I wouldn’t expect.” He allowed his arm to be grabbed. “Every defense is the best offense. Your enemy expects you to block, not attack. So,” he played into her gesture, showing himself forced forward. “Leaves them open. Got it?” Despite her +

𝔸𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕖? Leon pulled his head away from Gideon, face grimacing. “… whatever,” he replied back, annoyed. “Just get me something to eat. Don’t touch me.” The doctor was insane. Leon tugged his head away from the hand holding him, less so because of Gideon and more so his own thoughts. +

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕒𝕥 the tip of his tongue before he paused at the words. Rebellious eyes became half lidded instead. When was the last he had eaten anyway…? Leon’s body relaxed at the words. The confidence that Gideon exuded was felt physically in the agent. Briefly, he forgot why he was upset. +

𝕃𝕖𝕠𝕟 𝕘𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕥𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕟𝕠𝕕, feeling his eyes heavy. “You as well. I’ll … keep first watch if you’d like. I need to walk around anyway before I drift off.” He opened the pant leg up to see a large bruise on the area he was bit. It was swollen but not black or infected. Leon sighed. “Sleep here.”

𝕎𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕃𝕖𝕠𝕟 𝕗𝕖𝕝𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 muscles in his neck strain as he was shoved back. Most of the blackness had gone, overtaken by whatever virus was more dominant inside him. Frankly, Leon didn’t even know what was inside him. His eyes still continued to peer at Gideon defiantly. “… what, are we having-

𝕃𝕖𝕠𝕟 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕕, pretending in slow motion to karate chop her neck. “You don’t make the first move,” Leon instructed. “But you gotta think. If I came after you this way… how do you think you’d react?” He was patient with her reaction, watching how she backed up a little at his taller frame.

𝕃𝕖𝕠𝕟 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕔𝕖𝕕 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕘𝕒𝕫𝕖 to meet Gideon’s. There was hatred in there, mixed with some confusion of identity. “Don’t be like that,” Leon sneered back, head tilting curiously at him. “You think that I’ll follow what you say,” Leon glared darkly at him in return. “But I can disagree to disagree.”

ℍ𝕖 𝕤𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥. “I guess… but I only wonder if you’re even able to continue. We…” Leon’s eyes looked back to the door. “We can’t hesitate. Whoever is gone is gone. We can’t save them all.”

𝕎𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕃𝕖𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕕 his gaze with the hand. There was a silent satisfaction in knowing he made Victor upset, but somehow, Leon knew he was faking it. He rose an eyebrow at him. “You’re not angry,” Leon grunted. “Stop the act. If you wanted something from me, you would have already taken it.”