Chapter Text
When Leon gets back to his apartment not a thing is out of place. Not that this place is exactly a home, it's just where Leon sleeps between missions. There's a perfectly ordinary gray couch, one small pine stand, a flat screen tv, and two yelllow and gray striped throw pillows Claire insisted he needed.
She said it made the place more 'homey'. Whatever that means. He wouldn't know home if it bit him in the ass. The closest thing he had to a home was Chris.
But he had to end that.
Simmons found out something actually made Leon happy. So naturally he couldn't allow that. He threatened to put Sherry in a lab.
That's Leon's Achilles heel.
So, he faded away from Chris's orbit. He took mission after mission and just disappeared. He's an expert at that.
Leon's home, and not a thing is out of place.
So why are the hairs on the back of his neck standing up? Why does it all feel so wrong?
His eyes get heavy, there's a barely audible hiss coming from the vent.
Fuck, he's being gassed. That pisses him off because you can't fight back against gas. Everyone has to breathe.
It becomes hard to focus. The last thing he sees is a large blonde man in head to toe black leather.
With black sunglass.
Leon, being Leon, has to get the last word before he passes out. "Why the fuck do you look like a Matrix reject?"
**
Claire is on her way to lunch with Jill when an unknown number pops up on her cellphone. They're at a cute outdoor café in Paris and she slides into a wrought iron ivy chair as she answers.
"This is Claire"
Claire Redfield? The same Claire that's an emergency contact for Leon Scott Kennedy?
"Yes"
Jill looks concerned when Claire's eyes go wide and she drops her purse.
We're calling to inform you Agent Kennedy is missing. Please come to DSO headquarters for a full debriefing.
With that, the line goes dead.
Claire's hands are shaking when she dials her brother's personal cell. She doesn't try to hide the naked fear in her voice. "Chris, I need to see you. Something's happened to Leon, I'm on my way to D.C. right now."
Jill speaks up "I'll be traveling with her."
**
When Leon wakes up he's restrained and in a room that's a blindingly bright white. He tests his restraints and finds they're made of metal. Leon's eyes go wide when sees he's laying on a hospital bed. He's covered with a crisp white sheet and very groggy. His limbs feel heavy, and he finds breathing to be very painful.
Those beautiful blue eyes have trouble focusing but he hears a person. He vaguely makes out a white lab coat and that same blonde hair. The ice king (that what Leon's decided to call him in lieu of a real name) approaches his bed and pulls the sheet covering him off his chest.
That's when Leon realizes he's very... naked.
"Wh...o..?" The heavy sedatives being pumped inside him on haven't worn off enough for coherent speech.
"You're Ms. Wong's pet spy. She took something that belonged to me. So I took someone that belongs to her. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I find you're carrying a submissive plaga. Granted, it's dead, but dead better than nothing. If she ever wants to see you again she'll bring me my specimen."
Leon can tell the man speaking to him is older, but not elderly. "Not...screwing...Ada."
"Well that's a shame, your life depends on her cooperation; or my continued interest."
Leon feels the man's fingers rub some sort of gel on his chest. He raises his head up just a little and sees staples going from his chest to his naval.
His eyes go wide.
"I removed the dead plaga. You're welcome. Oh, I also disposed of that pesky tracking chip. Simmons won't be coming to your rescue."
How the hell does this mystery man know about his boss?
"Simmons is a crooked bastard. I know all about the... predicament he has you wrapped up in. The contract, Sherry, and the...things he wants from you...
...Mr. Kennedy. I've decided to allow you my hospitality for a while. If you behave, I won't hurt you. Well, not too much and who knows, we may become friends."
Something about the way that man speaks makes Leon nervous.
"Who are you?"
"Don't worry about that just yet. I find that I like that you don't already know who I am."
The blonde turns and injects another sedative but this one doesn't put Leon out the whole way. Leon's eyes go wide just before completely losing focus.
"You are more alluring in person Mr. Kennedy. Your photos don't do you justice."
Leon feels a gloved hand slide under the sheet and rub his thigh.
"I can be a very good friend to have."
Leon loses his grip on reality as this...Matrix villain... feels him up.
**
Within a day Claire's in what amounts to a fancy waiting room in The White House. She's nervously pacing because nobody will tell her anything.
"Ms. Redfield, this way please."
Claire dumbly follows the aide, barely taking in her surroundings. The aide opens a door and ushers Claire into the oval office. Her heart race as she sees President Graham, Director Simmons, Ingrid Hunnigan, Jill, and lastly, her big brother Chris. Chris's expression is unreadable, he's absolutely stone-faced.
That means something's pissed him off.
"Agent Kennedy returned from his mission yesterday morning. After clearing medical, and debriefing, he was released to go home and recover. His tracker went offline at approximately 2030 hours. A team was sent to check on him and found his apartment empty. That's why you were called Ms. Redfield, you're his emergency contact." Hunnigan told them just enough that they can extrapolate some disturbing things about Leon's life.
A. He had an embedded tracking chip. Why the fuck would that be necessary if his whole job was predicated on absolute secrecy?
B. Why would a whole team be required to check on him?
C. What were his injuries?
It's just enough information to tell them Leon's in real trouble.