Out In the Open ((Limited to Leon and Ada))

[governmentninja]

Langsfield Park, that was the place Leon had picked. The park was far enough from his place, open, well lit, and with a fair amount of people out, even this time of night. He told Ada to meet him along the south end of Meyers Pond at 9:30pm, and he sat alone on one of the benches as he waited for her. He checked his watch, 9:27, it said, and he let out a bit of a sigh. Was she even going to show? How long should he even sit there and wait for her?

He wondered why he was getting so nervous, sitting there in his blue jeans, dark blue shirt, and suede jacket. This wasn't a date, right? Or was it?

He didn't know, and there in lay the problem between him and her.

Ever since he met in Racoon City, this mysterious woman in the red dress has somehow gotten a grip on his soul that, no matter what, would not let go... and he wasn't sure he wanted it to. He was the cop, but she risked her neck to save his several times, even at great cost to herself. He thought for sure he had lost her in Racoon City, and he swore he would never forget her.

Then, a few years ago, her name began to appear in reports linking her to Wesker. He didn't to believe it, but in Europe, she all but flat-out admitted it.

From the moment they first got an anonymous tip that Ashley had been in that village, until he first ran into several crazed villlagers, he had a feeling that it was more than just luck that he got sent there. He knew it once he and Ada crossed paths in Salazar's castle. She had help him out a number of times, and helped himsave Ashley from whatever Saddler wanted to do to her... but in the end, she betrayed him. She put a gun to his head, and somewhere inside he knew she would've pulled the trigger had he refused to hand over the sample. Once she was free and clear, she set the island to blow up beneath his feet...

...but she also gave him the keys he needed to get out of there alive with Ashley.

Now, all he wanted from her... he didn't know. He wanted to help her, he wanted to save her. He also wanted to choke the bitch. Part of him wanted to hold her tight and never let go, while the rest of him wanted nothing to do with her ever again. But yet, here he was, waiting for her, waiting for answers.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_prevarication/]

Ada had a strenuous anxiousness about her which held it’s own within the ever-powerful emotional war that was staged within.

The mysterious woman treaded among a variety of people as she set her sights on this designated meeting place. Wong was dressed the same, save for her choice in the areas of colours: faded denim accented with a slightly ornamented belt, black boots, a red halter… and walked about jacketed. It was chilly, if not cold here…And he had probably been waiting there for quite a while.

Her eyes closed simultaneously to a deep breath. It would be difficult talking to a man she had unwillingly betrayed so many times, and it was for certain that Leon held within him so many unanswered questions. He had every right to know the truth, and it was excruciating.

She wouldn’t be able to give him the straight facts, no matter how hard he begged/thrashed. Not without being tortured by Mr. Enigmatic himself…Ada wasn’t at all prepared to die.

Perhaps that was the reason she had caused so much trouble in the first place.

She stopped.

Her train of thought diminished suddenly, and Ada melded herself into a figure of fraudulent suave. The steps she took now were lighter: with every one the woman in red came closer to him. Heartily Leon was sitting, alone, on a bench at the south end of Meyers Pond.

…He could never know. Never.

Ada slid slender hands into the pockets on either side of her jacket.

“So, what do you want to talk about? How much you hate me?”

[governmentninja]

His heart nearly lept into his throat at the sound of her voice, and suddenly he was overcome with an equal sense of enthusiasm and dread. At least, though, she was here.

He stood up, facing her, his arms at his sides. "Ada...", he spoke, his voice surprisingly cool despite all the emotions churning within.

"I don't hate you." He sighed, then looked off to the side, eyeig the pond. "Can't say the same for the man you work for."

He finally looked back at her, his eyes locking onto hers. "Why, Ada? You obviously don't want to be there. What could he have on you that's so important?"


((and as an aside, now would be a good time to inntroduce Ada in the rp on Claire's journal.))

[http://users.livejournal.com/_prevarication/]

She suppressed a grin in response to the statement which implied that, in fact, Leon didn't hate her. It was somewhat strange, however...He had every right.

Why was she so happy about that, anyway?

It was shortlived, though, and to retaliate for the question she had most expected, her cold, intelligent oculars did nothing but glare into his own. That was one query Ms. Wong could answer for him truthfully, though it would hurt her pride...And could cause a confrontation if Wesker ever discovered it.

Then again, she could always flee into the Nexus...But she couldn't stay there for eternity.

The woman in red gave the most simple answer, most hesitantly.

"My life."

[governmentninja]

Leon was studying her, almost. If there was one thing Ada was good at, it was hiding something beneath the surface. Every slight quirk, twitch... any movement, subtle or otherwise, he caught.

He still couldn't read her, though.

Her answer struck him as simple, and most likely true. Wesker would kill her if she tried to walk away from him. Well, he'd try to, at least.

"Not if I can help it. You can get away from him. Let me help you." His offer was sincere, which showed in his face and his voice. Even after all she'd done, all he wanted, right now at least, was to save her.

If only she'd let him.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_prevarication/]

Once more, Ada speculated him for moments on end: They observed each other so strenuously, searched so hard for any slight movement that would prove symbolic, that some of the abundance of people occupying this well-lit area had begun to take notice.

Ada felt her own well-organized emotions betray her.

She took two steps toward the audacious male, within reach by this point, and declined his request in a low, purr-like voice: surprisingly cool, judging by her level of internal anxiety.

Why did he have to be so Goddamn nice?

"Leon..." Ada began, crossing both arms over her chest. "As much as I appreciate the offer, are you aware that you'd be digging your own grave?"

"After everything I've put you through, why are you so prepared to help?"

[governmentninja]

The muscles in legs tensed as she closed the distance between them. He wasn't sure if was about to run to her or run away from her, but in the end, he just stayed rooted to the spot.

Her first, the answer was obvious, but her second question caught him off guard. Why was he offering to help her? Shouldn't he be trying to put her in jail?

He thought about it for a few seconds, the silence between them practicaly glaring. Finally, he gave her the most honest answer he could. "Because there are some things in my life I can't just let go of. Not yet...

"I know exactly what I'd be getting into, by getting you free from Wesker. My offer still stands."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_prevarication/]

Much like the day John'd requested a marriage, Ms. Wong didn't know how to react, exactly, to that particular statement- just let her body do the talking on it's own. She smiled...It wasn't a facade.

But, much like all of her happiness, it faded within minutes: Leon's offer remained.

She didn't want him to get hurt...

The sentence slipped from her mouth.

"I don't want you to get hurt."

[governmentninja]

"Since when!?" the words had flew out of his mouth so fast that it even surprised him a little, but her words had shocked him even more.

"Last I recall, you didn't have too many problems putting me into harms way." He knew she was the main reason he ended up in Europe to begin with, looking for Ashley. Sure, she helped him a few times, but she had used him as her pawn to take down Saddler and the Los Illumanatos... all so she could get the sample.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_prevarication/]

"I had confidence within you, Leon; I knew you'd come out alive!" Ada shot back, her rather feline-like tone containing a sharp edge. She'd stated it with so much unbidden emotion, that it had to be truthful...

Now for the hardest part.

"And yes, I...Sort of used you to obtain what I needed, but I helped you many times."

"If it weren't for the anonymous tip I sent, and if it weren't for my assistance on that mission, both you and Ashley could have bit the dust."

Ms.Wong paused, and turned: facing the lake.

"I don't want you to get hurt, and with Wesker, it's close to inevitable."

[governmentninja]

He almost flinched at her first words, but managed to maintain his cool. Everything she had just said was true, mostly.

He turned to face the pond as well, moving over slightly so that he was closer to her. She was close enough for him to touch her, for him to hold her, but he held himself back from doing either.

"Let me worry about Wesker.

"Just to more questions.... 'yes' or 'no' answers..." Leon paused, taking in a bit of a breath. This was alot harder than he had imagined it would be.

"In Europe, near the end... you had your gun to my head..." He turned to his head to look at her. "...would you have pulled the trigger if I had refused?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_prevarication/]

Would you have? A suave, internal voice spoke- cutting persistently at her every standing nerve. She would have, but at the same time, she wouldn't have performed such a heatless act...And that just wasn't a good, reliable answer.

He took a bullet for you, so why not you for him?

Ada breathed inward, released the remains through her nose, and turned to face him: containing another truthful answer.

She wouldn't have taken his life; emotionless bloodshed over something so stupid, hadn't been her game.

Another way would have been found.

"No."

[governmentninja]

You would think Leon would be happy about that answer, or at least relieved, and part of him was. But he was convinced she would have, in that moment... or else he never would've given her the sample in the first place.

And there was also the little matter of his second question.

"Back in Racoon City... you told me you fell in love with me." He paused. Facing down Ganados and zombies was easy, compared to this. "Do you still feel the same way, or..." or was it finally time for him to let go of this?

"...or not?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_prevarication/]

Staring seemed to have summed up the majority of this conversation- when they glared, they really glared: for minutes on end.

And according to her mentality, they were overdue for one.

Ada was not a little shocked by the afore-mentioned statement. So dreadfully stunned, that in fact, every conjoined muscle captivated within that femininely athletic build had contracted in immediate response.

She was in no position to lie...

But it wasn't like Letting the cat out of the bag would change anything.

"Yes."

[governmentninja]

You would think he would be happy about that answer, but instead a swirl of emotions just raged within him. He wasn't sure which ones to act on at the moment.

He looked away from her, staring at the pond for a moment. He almost wished she had said 'no', then maybe he could finally let go of everything he felt for her.

Of course, he knew he couldn't, either way. But, yeah, she was still in love with him. But was he still in love with her?

He looked back over at her, almost studying her for a moment. But who was he kidding, he was still in love with her... but now what?

This was weird, being so indecisive and indirect wasn't his style. "Ada...", he spoke, stopping himself from pleading with her, begging her to just stay with him, let him pretect her from Wesker, and from whatever else comes their way. But he already knew she'd refuse him.

Instead, he reached out for her, pulling her to him gently. Hee wanted to hold her, to pretend that life was just that simple, for just a moment. "...why can't things just be simple between us?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_prevarication/]

Yes...It was weird. It was very uncanny, standing here as she was at this very moment: observant to his persistent observing. An odd lifting was felt, however: releasing things she'd been containing for over 6 years had it's benefits...And initially, Ada had planned on avoiding the facts entirely.

The significant other looked away for a few moments, the Asian American noticed, and averted back to Ms. Wong for more than a few, subsequently...Through it all, she had just remained uneasily hushed: secretly holding her own through the emotional catastrophe that had warred internally.

She wanted to touch him, to be most truthful; run her fingers through, and captivate the feel of, each strand of hair upon his cranium...To put a true smile upon his face, as most seemed (Much like Ada's own) fraudulent.

And then, as if on cue, they embraced: Ada never fought, but succumbed into resting in content against the confines of Kennedy's chest area. Her arms loosely surrounded him.

You're not supposed to feel this way.

"Because nothing is ever simple, Leon...You, of all people, should know that."

[governmentninja]

It felt so right to him, to have her in his arms like this. He really didn't want to let go. In fact, he even cinched his arms around her tighter.

"You'd think something like this would be. You're in love with me, and I...

"...I'm in love with you." He paused for a moment. That was the first time he ever admitted those feelings outloud, to anyone.

"Unfortunately, we both work for opposing sides..."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_prevarication/]

Ada's dominant hand unhitched the affectionate chain both had captivated before, and drifted onward to position itself just below Leon's left shoulder-blade...perhaps inches away from where psychotic Annette had shot him.

Ms. Wong as well released a shaken sigh, and reluctantly cocked her ebony head upward: meeting his piercing, cobalt glare.

She hurt within...He loved her, she loved him, and the pain of confidentiality/hatred only intensified.

"I-..."

"I'm sorry."

[governmentninja]

There was always something about her eyes that he loved... that drew him in and didn't let go. His glare had softened considerably, and to anyone passing by they just looked like two lovers sharing a soft moment, and perhaps for the first time, they were.

He reached a hand up, letting his fingers trace along her face, feeling the soft skin. Following his instincts, he leaned down, pressing his lips against hers in a soft, lingering kiss.

He didn't want to break it, but did so anyway after a few momnts, whispering in response "So am I... "

[http://users.livejournal.com/_prevarication/]

When Leon caressed the side of her face...When he had kissed her...Well, she wouldn't know how to explain it when asked, other than it had the effects of some sort of boost.

Odd was it that however boosting it felt, Ada would experience the weight of excruciating guilt at the same time.

She wanted to weep, and hence her voice quavered faintly.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Leon."

"Perhaps one day...I'll be able to tell you everything."

[governmentninja]

Leon did have alot to apologize for, at least he thought. He should've done a better job protecting her in Racoon City. He should've tracked her down after she threw him the rocket launcher and made sure she got out with him. he shouldn't have given Wesker a chance to get her. He should've done... so many things differently.

"You can tell me everything now."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_prevarication/]

Ada spoke in soft frustration, gaining eye-contact as she had before. "Must I repeat myself, Leon?"

"The releasing of such information can have dire consequences attached to it... especially if you're working under the eyes of the truly malevolent." A pause; she looked away for just a few moments.

"I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he already has knowledge of my being here, with you, at this very moment: an act which is punishable on its own."

"And even if you were to ignore everything else, this area is too public: eyes and ears are everywhere."

[governmentninja]

She was right, and he knew it. It wouldn't shock him if some of the people he worked for had found out about this meeting.

Still, there was always so much mystery surrounding Ada, he wanted to know everything he could know about her.

"I know... but can you at least tell me something? Not about Wesker, or what you do for him, but about you. I want to know more about you..."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_prevarication/]

Ada went quiet for a few more moments, and had also averted her attention to Leon once again. Her contemplation was obvious.

Where to begin, and where do I draw the line?

"...All right.

"To start things off, just incase you're wondering, Ada Wong is my true birth-identity.

"My father was of Chinese descent. Despite whatever cultural restraints that had been preventing him from leaving his country at the time, he took himself and his pregnant wife to New York, anyway...I was born there. On May 8th."

Ada smiled. "Kinda went downhill from there."

She paused momentarily.

"Mr. Kennedy, you're pretty mysterious yourself...How about throwing out some facts on your behalf?"

[governmentninja]

He had to smile a little, listening to this mundane bit of informantion about her life. It was something so small, so normal. May 8th? He was going to have to remember that bit of information.

"I'm really not that mysterious." He chuckled a little.

"And in case you're wondering, Leon is my real name, though in High School I went by Scott." He shrugged "'Leon' just always seemed like the name for one of those guys in some dumb romance novel, which really wasn't me, back then."

He grinned a little, he had come a long way since then. "Anyway, my Dad was a cop, one of Philadelphia's Finest, which is largely why I became one.

"I joined the Racoon City PD hoping to work my way up to the STARS team but... well, you know what happened when I got to Racoon City."