Chapter Text
After the incident in New York, Amara was kept busy running around and helping to clean up the rest of the creatures that Eve had created. Thankfully, there were only small pockets of the beasts hidden here and there throughout the city, so it didn't take long between her and Aya to find and guide their troops to the targets. Chris was able to sound an all-clear for the BSAA within two days. TerraSave and TriCell were then called in to help clean up and decontaminate the affected parts of the city.
The city's entire water system needed a complete overhaul, and several buildings, like the museum, needed to be carefully cleaned out before being completely renovated. It was an absolute mess, but the BSAA had done their part.
Amara took Leon to a nearby storage facility when they finally returned to BSAA's European HQ. She would have brought Chris along too, but he was busy with all the paperwork that needed to be done after the New York incident. As it was, she was nervous about letting anyone into the storage unit after so long, so perhaps it was for the best that it was just her and Leon.
Leon had insisted, quietly but firmly, that she get him the tapes that she'd saved up over the years regarding her unit's actions against her and Dominic. She'd agreed but had grown more and more nervous the closer they got to the facility. Amara pulled their vehicle to a stop in front of one of the medium-sized, garage-like units meant for motorcycles and smaller sports cars. She parked the vehicle and then got out, moving over to shakily unlock the door. Amara paused and took a calming breath before sliding the door up.
She had faced Eve. She could face this.
Stepping inside, she led Leon toward the back and behind a motorcycle that she bought for herself a couple years back. It was a nice little Big Dog Pitbull motorcycle. Next to it was a car, covered up with a tarp. She ignored both, making a beeline for a small box tucked behind a pile of tires. Leon paused next to the bike, running his fingers over the handlebar.
"Nice bike," he said with a chuckle. "Didn't know you liked to ride."
"Only on occasion," she responded with a faint smile. "Honestly, that was the first vehicle I'd ever bought for myself. I don't get to use it as much as I'd hoped, given the job, but I still love it."
"Makes sense," he said with a small nod.
Bending down, she tugged the box out from behind the tires and set it on top of the table it had been hidden under. She brushed away the fine layer of dust and took out one of her keys. She opened it up, revealing not a stack of cassette tapes but two small USB drives. Her fingers trailed nervously over the drives.
This... everything she'd saved up was on these two drives. She had no backups. She liked Leon and Chris a lot. Was even coming to love them. Especially following the events of New York. It had drawn them together closer than she had expected. She knew from years of experience that she could trust Chris with her life, with Dominic’s life, but… Leon’s arms wrapped around her from behind, and he placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head.
“You still up for this?” he asked in a soft voice. “I know it’s a big step, and you’re taking a large leap of faith trusting me with this information. From what you’ve said, the others have been clever enough to make sure things get swept under the rug despite Chris’ efforts to spot-check his teams. He has too many people for him to keep track of, and they’ve used that to their advantage. Which, sadly, happens in large organizations.”
"Yes, I am sure,” Amara said as she leaned back against Leon. “I don't want them to hurt anyone else."
“I hear you,” he said, reaching around to hold out his hand for the two drives. Amara gently placed them into his hand. “Sounds like they’ve done enough to you and Dominic both. You were smart, gathering and hiding this for the right time. With this, Chris can clean the chafe out of the teams."
"I hope you're right," she said, letting out a soft sigh. It was out of her hands now and in Leon's. Hopefully...
Hopefully, he'd be able to pull off the miracle he'd promised her.
"Got a couple surprises for you later, by the way, but first," he pulled back and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "I saw this nice little place on the way here. Want to take the bike for a ride and swing by the shop I saw? Or is there something special about the car under the sheet there?”
"Well, we could just take the ride we brought with us," she said teasingly, turning around to look at him. She let out a laugh at his puppy-dog look. "Which one would you want to take?"
“Hm… can I see the car and then decide?” he asked with a boyish grin, tucking the drives away in his inner coat pocket.
Amara giggled and walked over to the covered car. She gently removed the tarp, revealing a sunset orange colored two-thousand and five Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 that was in pristine condition. Not that it wouldn’t be. She’d only had the chance to drive it once after Tanya had bought it for her as a celebration gift for her completing her training and becoming an ‘official’ BSAA agent and not just an ‘on-call asset.’
Sometimes she envied her friends' connections and family money. Other times she just appreciated the nice things her friend got her. Even if they had drifted apart over the years thanks to them being in two separate units in the BSAA, Tanya still remembered the important dates. Like her birthday and the holidays. She'd forgotten that during the events of New York. Or rather, Eve had been fucking with her head and making her feel more alone than she actually was.
Leon let out a low whistle that drew her from her thoughts. He ran his fingers lightly over the hood and let out a chuckle. He shot her a boyish grin.
"Mind if I drive her?" he asked.
"Only if you treat her gently," Amara said with a giggle and a wink. She moved over to where she'd hidden the keys and pulled them out, tossing them to Leon. "Here's the keys. Now, this lovely girl was a gift to me, and I would love to keep her purring for years yet, understood Agent Kennedy."
“I’ll treat her like I do her owner,” Leon said with a wink, unlocking the door. “A priceless treasure and warrior Yuki-onna, yeah?”
"I swear, Kitsune,” Amara replied, playfully rolling her eyes. “You're trying to sweet-talk your way into my pants."
"Is it working?" he asked with a wider grin.
"Oh, shut up and get in," she said with a laugh, moving over to the passenger side.
Leon chuckled and followed her, unlocking the doors and holding the door open for her. She let out an amused huff and climbed into the car, sitting down. He grinned at her, flashing her a quick wink before closing the door and moving to the driver's seat. He started the car, letting out a pleased hum as the engine started, its thrum a low purr.
"You keep her running smoothly from the sound of it," he said with a grin. "Regular cleaning, I suppose?"
"Yeah," she responded with a nod. "I don't have time to take it out for a drive, but the owners of the lot here don't mind if folks work on their vehicles on-site as long as we don't make a mess of things. I try to check on her every two weeks if I can to make sure the battery is working and that no animals got to the wires."
"Good practice to have, especially in our line of work," Leon said, pulling out of the storage unit and stopping long enough to close up and lock the door for her. He hopped back in the car and buckled up. "I hope you like surprises, Yuki-onna."
"I like good surprises," she said with a laugh, looking over at him with a fond smile. Leon really was growing on her the more time they spent together. "Why, what are you up to, Agent Kennedy?"
"Oh, you'll see," he said with a smirk that made her narrow her eyes. "Just follow my lead and don't run for the hills like Chris would. Please?"
“Yeah… You see, saying things like that doesn’t help, Agent ,” she said with a huff, causing him to burst into laughter.
Leon's laughter faded, but he said nothing to give away his plans. She shook her head and turned to watch the scenery as they entered the nicer part of the city they were stationed near. The BSAA had multiple bases set up around the globe, but the main HQ - where they stayed - was located in the UK. It had been one of the deciding factors for her to join up. It had made it harder for her ex to chase her down when she was no longer living in the US.
She shook her head a little, pushing away the thoughts of her cruel-hearted, violent ex. If she could believe Leon and Lorraine both, then the US Senator's days in power were numbered, and he'd never be able to threaten her again. True, she was still terrified that they'd be unable to do anything about the man. But, for once, she felt a flicker of hope bloom in her chest.
And that was terrifying in and of itself…
“We’re here,” Leon said, pulling into the parking lot for a… fancy and exceptionally high-end-looking dress shop?
“Um… Leon?” Amara started hesitantly as he put the vehicle in park. “What are we doing here ?”
“Getting you something nice,” he said before stepping out of the vehicle and closing the door. He moved to Amara's side and opened the door for her, holding out his hand as she hesitantly unbuckled her own belt. “Come on. We’ve got an appointment to keep.”
“Seriously,” she muttered - hissed really - as she let him help her to her feet. He tucked her hand into his arm and led her inside. “What the fuck are we doing here?! I can’t afford shit like this!”
“ I can,” he said with another boyish grin, only this time she was tempted to swat the smile away. “There’s a charity gala coming up. Chris and I are going, and we want you to come with us. Even if you said no, I wanted to treat you to something nice.”
“I know about the event,” she grumbled as they stepped inside. She looked at the expensive dresses on display with wide eyes. “Chris was complaining about having to get a suit, but...”
“Shh, Yuki-onna,” he said, cutting her off and leaning in to kiss her cheek. “Let’s get you fitted, yeah? There are a few designs that I think will fit you well.”
“None of this will fit me!” she hissed back frantically, tucking herself more into his side as the attendant walked over.
“Yes, it will,” Leon responded, his expression gentle and earnest as he met her wide-eyed gaze. He turned to the attendant with a winning smile. “Hello there. Appointment for Agent Kennedy and company.”
“Of course, sir,” the young woman said with a smile that almost seemed like it was real. “Please step this way, and we will get you both taken care of. Has the lady chosen which dress she would like to be fitted for?”
“Not yet,” Leon said, patting Amara’s hand comfortingly and pulling her with him as the attendant led them off toward the back. “It’s a bit of a surprise. If you could bring the design photos out so she can see them?”
“Of course, sir,” the attendant paused near the entrance to two large fitting rooms with full-body mirrors and bowed before moving off to retrieve three photos. She returned in short order and held them out. “Here you are, sir. Our two new designers came up with these. The gentlemen both do amazing work.”
“Well, which one would you like?” Leon asked, taking the photos and holding them so Amara could get a closer look.
Each photo showed a model showing off the dresses. One of them was a strapless sheath dress with a slit along the side that opened the skirt just at about mid-thigh and came with a lovely long sheer silk scarf to wear low around the arms. Its color was listed as ‘paprika’ and was an orangish-red.
Another dress was a one-shouldered ensemble with a ‘mermaid’ skirt that flared outward around the knees. This one was listed as ‘emerald green’ and came with a matching pair of high-sleeved gloves.
The third was a lovely, short-sleeved sheath dress with a sheer ‘skirt’ overlay and a lacey, open back. The lace was a design meshing a series of flowers with a dragon as the centerpiece. Its color was listed as ‘periwinkle.’
All of them were listed as being made out of Mulberry Silk, and a small alarm bell went off in the back of her head. That… was one of, if not the most expensive silk. She could remember her ex complaining about the cost of a suit made out of it and… Amara blinked and shook her head, violently pushing the memory away. She turned to Leon with what she hoped was a blank expression.
"Leon… Kitsune… These dresses are all extremely expensive… I honestly don't think I'm worth this much. And-" she would have said more, but he interrupted her by placing a finger to her lips.
He gave the attendant a small smile, and the woman stepped away to give them a second of privacy.
"You, Amara Garcia, are worth every penny," he said in a firm but gentle voice. For a moment, Amara could see a brief flicker of red in his eyes, but he blinked, and it was gone so fast that she thought she'd imagined it. His hand shifted to cup her cheek. "I have a lot of money saved up given my job and hardly get the chance to spend any of it. Let me spoil you a little?"
“I…” Amara sighed a bit and leaned into Leon's touch. She looked up at him, feeling a sense of affection well within her heart, overwriting the fear and worry and… "You should be careful who you spoil like this, my cheeky Kitsune. A woman could get used to this…"
“You deserve to be spoiled after some of the things you’ve been through,” he murmured softly. He pulled back and tapped the photos, giving her a grin. “Which one do you like the most?”
She smiled at him, shaking her head. Feeling decidedly bemused by his antics, she turned back to the gallery photos and looked them over once more. After a closer look, she lightly tapped on the image of the periwinkle one with the lacy dragon on the back.
"This one," Amara said softly. "If that's okay?"
“That's fine. I had hoped you’d like that one too, but I wasn’t going to pick for you,” Leon said with a smile. He looked up at the attendant, passing the photos back to the woman with the periwinkle dress on top. “The top one, please, and we’re ready to be fitted now.”
“If you could step into the other room, sir,” the lady said with a smile. “Jones will see you while I see your companion. This way, miss.”
Leon was led off into a large room off to the left with a male attendant, while the nice lady attendant led her off to the right. It was embarrassing, getting undressed and having to slip into the dress as it was. The woman moved around her, fine-tuning the seams to fit her. Amara winced but remained quiet as she watched the woman work, keeping her gaze turned away from the mirrors. It felt like hours had passed before the woman stepped away from her, looking quite pleased with herself.
“Please move around and tell me how it feels and looks,” she said in a demure tone. “I can adjust anything as needed.”
"Y-yes, ma'am," Amara said as she began to move her arms and legs around, testing the feel of the dress on her.
She found herself pleased that the dress wasn't in any way restricting her movements. Yeah, it was a little awkward. Amara was used to wearing pants or shorts. The hem of the dress would force her to shorten her usual stride just a hair, but other than that, it was comfortable. She turned to the attendant with a smile.
"It feels wonderful," she said to the woman, still not having looked into the mirror. "You do good work."
“We pride ourselves on our service, and the gentlemen will be glad to hear of your approval,” the attendant said, returning her smile.
"Who are the designers?" she asked with a blink. "I'd like to pass on a thank you if possible and keep their names in mind if... if anything else comes up like this."
"Mr's Reyes-Morrison and Morrison-Reyes," the woman said with a bow of her head.
"Gabriel and Jack?" Amara asked excitedly. "They survived ?! Oh, thank goodness! Everything was so hectic..."
"Yes, madame. They and several others were able to escape from the city," the aid said with a nod. "When Mr. Kennedy arranged for the appointment, and they found out you were coming as the Agent's guest, they handed over their best designs in the hopes you might approve. Now please, tell me if you like how it looks.”
Amara hesitated a moment before turning to look at her reflection. Her eyes widened at the sight of herself, and her hands flew to cover her mouth. The dress fit perfectly. The few alterations that the attendant had made allowed the dress to hug her curves in a way that accentuated them. She looked... she looked like...
“You look like a princess,” Leon said from the door.
Spinning on her heel, she turned to see him leaning casually against the doorframe, decked out in a charcoal grey suit that made his eyes seem more blue than normal. She smiled at him briefly before turning back to the mirrors. She was happy on more than one level. The couple who had been so sweet and had helped her find a good dress for the Carnegie Hall events had survived. And they were doing well for themselves too! It was a relief to know that they were counted amongst those who had survived the Eve outbreak.
"I love the dress," she said in a soft voice. Amara turned to look back at Leon with a smile. "Thank you for this. And, may I say that you look very handsome in that suit, my Kitsune. It really brings out your eyes."
"Thanks," Leon said with a wink and a smirk. He let out a mock-pained sigh. "I still need to drag Chris in here later for his fitting. He hates things like this, as I'm sure you're aware. Anyway, I picked out a darker blue suit that should suit his own eyes as well.”
“Oh?” Amara giggled at the thought of Leon dragging Chris, kicking and screaming into the shop. "Chris sounds like me with Tanya. She used to always drag me around to get new clothes when she felt my wardrobe 'needed an upgrade.'"
“Probably worse,” Leon said in a dry tone, giving her another smirk. “Wait till we get to the gala. He’ll look like a bear stuffed into a suit and act just as grouchy.”
A soft snort escaped her, and she covered her mouth with her hand. The mental image of a grumpy-bear Chris stuffed into a tux popped into her head, and it took a moment to stifle the urge to outright burst into laughter.
"My Kitsune. That's not nice,” Amara said once she had herself back under control. She turned back to the amused-looking attendant and smiled at the other woman. "Can you help me out of the dress? I don't want to ruin your modifications..."
“Right away, miss,” the attendant said before moving over to her side.
Leon politely ducked back out of the room, but Amara had caught a brief, heated look in the mirror. The attendant then undid the fasteners at the neck and helped her to squirm out of the dress without knocking loose any of the pins that had been used to adjust the waist and shoulders. The attendant gathered up the dress while Amara put her clothes back on.
“The dress will be ready to be picked up by the end of the day, miss," she said with a polite nod of her head. "I do hope you have enjoyed your time with us today.”
"I did. Thank you so much for your help," Amara replied as she headed out to meet up with Leon.
Leon was waiting for her, dressed in his previous attire. He had a mischievous grin on his lips that had her sighing and shaking her head in fond exasperation. Chuckling, he took his hand in hers and kissed the back of it before leading them out of the shop. He escorted her to the vehicle and helped her in before hopping into the vehicle himself. Leon let out a small sigh and leaned back in his seat. She looked over at him, concerned.
“Ugh… I am not looking forward to this again in an hour,” he murmured in a mock-pained tone, turning to look at her with a look that might have been meant to express the pain of someone about to face the gallows. “You have no idea what it’s like dealing with him sometimes, my Yuki-onna.”
"My poor Kitsune,” Amara said in a faux-consoling tone as she reached out to cup his cheek. “Would you like me to keep you company?"
“No, no,” he said, sighing and leaning into her hand. “I will brave the grumpy bear. You, however, have a nice spa day ahead of you.”
Wait, what? Amara thought to herself with a surprised blink.
It took a moment to realize that he'd likely paid in advance for a spa treatment for her. She let out a small sigh of mock-annoyance and leaned in to plant a gentle kiss on his lips. Biting down gently, she gave his lower lip a small tug before letting go.
"Leon… My Kitsune,” she said softly. “The dress was enough. You didn't have to do anything else for me…"
“Amara,” he cupped her hand in his own. “We just went through hell and back a week ago. Please just take some time to enjoy yourself and relax? On me? I really don’t have to worry about the money with what I’m paid. And I do enjoy getting my lovers nice things.”
"Alright," she said with a laugh, bopping him lightly on the nose. "But only if you and Chris do something to relax as well."
“We will. Don’t worry about us,” Leon said with a chuckle. “I have something planned to help Chris let off steam after the fitting.”
"Oh? And what would that be?" Amara asked with a curious tilt of her head. Leon just grinned at her as he started up the car and drove toward another part of town. Amara pouted at him. “Tell me, Kitsune. Please?”
"You're cute when you beg, Yuki-onna," Leon said with a low, husky little chuckle. "And it's just a little time in a specialized sparring ring. Bit of mud wrestling."
"Oh?” Amara let out a giggle at that. “ Mud wrestling? Can I get pictures, at least? Or ten?"
“Oh, photos and videos are already planned,” Leon said with a snicker. He winked at her, his blue eyes filled with playful mischief. “We do this on occasion since Chris happens to have shit luck sometimes when it comes to missions. Helps keep him on his toes for those times things go south… and also gives me an excuse to feel him up in public areas ‘on accident.’”
"Sounds like a lot of fun to watch," she said with another giggle. "So what all is offered at this spa you're taking me to, hm?"
“It's a nice place that will give you a full massage, mud bath if you want one, manicure and pedicure,” he said with a grin. “Whole works, really. Ah… here we are.”
Leon pulled into the lot of another high-end place and parked the car. Amara found herself eyeing the place with a small, nervous frown. He stepped from the vehicle and once more led her into a place she wouldn't usually frequent. Leon moved over to check her in while she waited in the lobby area. She had always felt a bit self-conscious when visiting cheaper businesses like this. Leon moved up behind her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and kissing her on the forehead.
"I'm going to go deal with Grumpy-bear," he murmured into her ear. "You relax here and enjoy yourself, okay?"
"Okay," she said with a smile before seeing him off.
As nervous as she had been, the time at the spa was wonderful . The people here were kind, professional, and… well, in no way like the few other places she’d been taken to. But then again, these people weren’t in her ex’s pockets, and… She shook her head again, settling into the mud-bath that she’d opted to try. Best to focus on the now and just… relax . By the end, she felt ready and raring to go. Refreshed in a way she hadn't felt in ages.
When Leon picked her up an hour and a half later, both he and Chris looked disheveled but happy. They'd laid out a good dozen or so towels across the inside of her car to keep any lingering bits of mud from getting on the upholstery. She appreciated it.
"Enjoy yourselves, my loves?” Amara asked with a smile as she looked them both over. They were mostly clean, their hair still wet from the showers. The pair shared a look and then grinned at her sheepishly. “I must say I do appreciate that you haven’t gotten my baby dirty."
“Told you I would take care of her,” Leon said with a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Now, let's go enjoy a few more days off before the gala, yeah?”
It was true that they still had some prep work to do for the gala, but the next week was spent in a kind of gentle repose as they got to know each other a little better. Small things mostly. Likes. Dislikes. Things of that nature.
Amara had known most of Chris’ pet peeves. It would have been hard not to pick up on such things, having worked with him for so long now. But she'd been surprised to learn about some of the things Leon didn't much care for. For example, Leon didn't care much for white chocolate. Too sweet, he said. Likewise, Leon couldn't enjoy cakes that had richer frostings. He preferred bitter things. Dark chocolate, bittersweet cakes, darker teas, and coffee. Honey, likewise, was a little too rich unless it was mixed with something to soften the flavor.
Leon also liked racing and over-the-top combat games. He especially liked ragging on the logistics of certain 'fatality' moves in Mortal Kombat. He liked old crime dramas and mysteries.
Chris, in contrast, liked things that were sweet, savory, or spicy. Sometimes all three. But then, she'd always known he'd like sweet and savory foods. He had a habit of stealing the bacon maple bars whenever they were ordered. She hadn't known he had a love of spicy foods, though, and made a mental note if she decided to cook something later.
Chris preferred story-driven games, though he did also enjoy Mortal Kombat, joining Leon in making exclamations of disbelief or, alternatively, arguing that a particular move was plausible as he'd seen a few Umbrella agents fall prey to their own experiments in similarly gory fashion.
It made for some interesting game nights...
Time always flew the fastest when one was having fun. The night of the gala was upon them faster than she expected, and, to be honest, she still didn't feel quite ready for it. As honored guests, she and the guys going to be the stars of the show and... Well, she would rather have been facing another BOW as opposed to the press. That was more Leon's schtick.
Nerve-wracking though it was, she got ready along with the others, and they piled into the limo. Leon wrapped an arm around her and subtly pointed at Chris. She glanced at the brunette and had to stifle a giggle. Chris was busy tugging nervously at his tie, his form slightly hunched in. The suit fit him wonderfully, and he cut an amazing figure in it, but he still looked super uncomfortable with the whole ensemble. Amara shifted out from under Leon's arm and went to sit next to Chris, gently swatting his hands away and fixing his tie for him.
"There we go. All better. You look handsome, Chris," she said with a reassuring smile, placing a quick kiss to his lips. “Don’t worry. We’re with you.”
“I just hate things like this,” Chris said with a heavy sigh. “This is more Claire’s thing than mine.”
"I can understand that, but it will be okay,” she said, carefully carding her fingers through his hair. She could understand his foreboding. She had a different reason to be wary of massive gala's like this, but she understood. “Which reminds me… try not to go ape when you see Wesker, okay, Papa Bear? We don’t want to have a fight break out on such a big night."
“...” his expression darkened, but he leaned into her touch and let out a sigh. “No promises, but I’ll try.”
Before she could offer up any further words of encouragement, the limo slowed to a stop. Leon let out a small sigh and flashed them both a grin before stepping out of the vehicle. He held his hand to Amara, helping her out next, and Chris followed behind her after giving his tie one last tug. The crowd surrounding the building was huge. The paparazzi out in force. Despite being prepared for it, Amara winced at the sudden, bright camera flashes. Her eyes had been a little more sensitive than usual ever since the Eve incident.
Honestly, she wasn't worried too much about the photos being taken. Not when she was safely tucked between Leon and Chris. As they stepped into the lobby and started toward the elevators leading to the uppermost floors, she noticed Lorraine and Wesker slipped into one of the elevators ahead of them. The death glower the taller male shot people who tried to follow them sent said individuals scuttling back a bit like frightened mice.
It was enough to make her smile in amusement. Even if she didn't like the guy, that had been kind of funny. Wesker was a terrifying individual, after all. As the crowd bustled about around them, Amara did her best to stay tucked between the two men at her sides. She really didn't want to be alone during the event.
Eventually, they got into their own elevator, sans anyone else, thanks to Chris unknowingly mimicking his former captain by glaring at people. Amara chuckled weakly and shook her head before taking a deep, calming breath. Her heart was racing. Leon took her hand in his and gave it a small squeeze. Glancing down, she noticed that Leon had done the same for Chris, offering both of them a measure of comfort. The elevator ride continued in silence, and the doors eventually opened to reveal the familiar, if slightly frustrated, visage of Claire Redfield, Chris' sister.
“Chris! Leon!” she greeted the two men with a strained smile and a hug. She then reached out to shake Amara’s hand. “And Ms. Amara Garcia. Our heroes of the day! I’m glad all of you could make it.”
“Heya, sis,” Chris said, reaching up to brush her hair back over her ear. “You’re looking good today. Everything going well?”
“So far…” she began hesitantly. She passed Leon an envelope before placing her hands on her hips and leaning toward her brother. “So, he showed up tonight. Be on your best behavior, okay? We need tonight to go well for donations, and it won’t if you two get into a fight.”
“Fuck, he actually showed up?” Chris rumbled with a growl.
“If you mean Wesker, yes,” Leon said, looking over the small card before tucking it away in his breast pocket. “I saw him and Lorraine in the elevator ahead of us. They... look surprisingly good together.”
The siblings continued to chat for a few moments, and Amara smiled at the sight. It was good that they were so close. She might be estranged from her adoptive family, but she occasionally reached out to her own sister to make sure she was doing alright. A part of her wished that she could have been as close to her sister as Chris and Claire were. But her adoptive parents had made that impossible.
A frisson of something zinged up her spine, making her uncomfortable. Amara glanced around warily, feeling nervous. Sure, people were looking at her, even admiring her dress quite openly, but... No one was looking at her in a way that could be considered threatening.
So why did she suddenly feel like she was being hunted?
Leon drew her from her thoughts, tucking her hand into his arm and leading her and Chris into the main hall. The decorators had really gone all out. The lighting had been done up in subtle hues that drew the eye to a BSAA banner nestled prominently between the TriCell and TerraSave banners. The chandeliers glittered above them like diamonds. She might have said something, but Chris let out a growl and stalked off to the side toward…
Uh oh , Amara thought, feeling both worried and amused.
“Dammit, Chris…” Leon said next to her, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose.
"Shall we go stop him?" she asked him with a faint smile.
“We’d better,” Leon responded, moving after the taller man who was already all but in Wesker’s face. The taller male was leaning back against the wall with his arms crossed and a confident smirk on his face.
“-couldn't even be here,” Chris was growling, in the process of trying to loom over the other male and… well, literally falling several inches short. Wesker was about six-three while Chris was only five-eleven. “Whatever the hell it is that you’re planning, I will make sure it fails.”
“And what could I possibly be planning? Other than my upcoming wedding, of course,” Wesker asked in a dry voice, his smirk widening as his eyes fell on Amara and Leon as they approached the two men. “Perhaps you’ll be doing the same soon? I do wish you well , Christopher.”
“Don’t bullshit me,” Chris snarled in a low voice. Several of the folks around them were already making room just in case a fight broke out between them. “Domestic bliss isn’t your style, you back-stabbing bastard .”
“Rather rude to call someone a bastard when they can’t prove the accusation of being born out of wedlock,” Wesker said, voice cold. Amara could have sworn she saw a flash of red under the man’s shades. “Especially when that person was literally kidnapped and enslaved as a child. Really, Christopher, I taught you better manners than that when dealing with victims of abuse.”
“You’re no fucking victim , you piece of-” Chris tensed up and looked like he was about ready to throw a punch. Wesker tensed as if to push away from the wall.
Amara darted forward and grabbed onto his wrist just in time to yank his hand firmly back to his side.
“Chris,” she began in a firm voice. “Your sister put a lot of work into arranging this charity gala. Don’t be the one to throw the first punch.”
“Listen to your woman, Christopher,” Wesker said, relaxing back against the wall again. “You wouldn’t want to anger our Dear Heart, now would you?”
“Stop fucking calling her that,” Christopher hissed angrily, hackles rising once more.
Amara gave Chris a gentle shove toward Leon, and the other male grabbed their partner by the arm to guide him away from their supposedly former enemy. Claire met the pair halfway with an angry look in her eyes and a fake smile on her face.
“You didn’t have to egg him on,” Amara said, turning to meet the blonde’s shaded gaze.
“ He sought me out, Ms. Garcia,” he said, tilting his head so she could see his feline-like eyes. If he was expecting her to flinch at the sight, then he must have been sorely disappointed by her lack of reaction. “I was merely waiting here for my Lorraine to finish her rounds. No more, no less.”
“Oh, and I’m sure you did absolutely nothing to draw his attention,” she said before grinning widely and leaning forward. “ Albie .”
“...” his entire body stiffened, his face twisting into one of open annoyance and anger for a brief moment before the polite mask slipped back into place. This time there had been no mistaking the faint red glow flickering in his eyes. “The only one who is allowed to call me such a childish name is Alex. I suggest you cease and desist, Ms. Garcia.”
“Stop pushing Chris’ buttons so blatantly and trying to goad him into a fight, and you have a deal,” she countered, leaning back and tilting her head in a faux-demure manner.
Wesker looked her over briefly before letting out a put upon sigh and waving his hand in an accepting, if also dismissive, manner. He primly pushed his shades back up his nose, turning his attention back to the crowd around them. Amara turned away, heart racing in her throat at her own audacity. Not only that, but the thrum of victory - even a minor one - tasted sweet.
Feeling amused and confident after having managed to stumble upon one of Wesker's pet peeves and using it to her advantage, she started toward where Chris and Leon were standing. Claire was very plainly lighting in on her brother, keeping her tone even and her expression polite. Her lips twitched at the sight of Chris sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck and-
A hand closed tight enough around her upper arm that she knew she'd have bruises later. The grip tugged hard, a signal for her to stop. Her body reacted reflexively, freezing mid-step. The all-too-familiar grip sent terror surging through her veins.
“Well, aren't you dressed to the nines today, little bitch,” a deep male voice with a thick New Jersey accent. “Still, you can’t turn a pig's ear into a silk purse, now can you?”
Heart in her throat for a very, very different reason, Amara's shoulders hunched inward as she instinctually tried to make herself a smaller target. She tried to pull away from Richardson's hold, but his hand tightened further still around her arm. She grit her teeth, reflexively containing the urge to yelp.
“Keep your mouth shut and come along quietly, you little slut,” he hissed into her ear. “You and I need to have a little… talk .”
"N-no..." she said in a faint voice as fear pulsed through her. She looked up at Richardson, at the 'boogeyman' of her past, and spoke past the terror. "L-let go."
"The fuck did you say to m-? Ow!" the dark-haired male's handsome face twisted with pain under his thick mustache and beard as a paler hand closed tight around the wrist of the hand holding her arm.
The hand holding her spasmed and loosened, giving her enough space to force her arm free of the taller man's grip. A far gentler hand landed on her opposite shoulder, gently tugging her back and behind the taller frame of... Wesker?! Amara found herself staring at the blonde in shock as he smirked at her ex. Wesker's expression promised nothing but pain.
"I do believe the lovely lady said 'no' and told you to release her," Wesker purred in a deadly yet cultured voice. Richardson tried to pull his wrist free, only to wince when Wesker tugged him closer. "It was a very poor idea to try and make off with one of New York's heroes."
"This is all just a misunderstanding…" her ex started, only to have Wesker lean in until the two men were almost nose to nose.
"I've found that pathetic little creatures like yourself are useful only as test subjects," Wesker growled, his smile never fading as he used every inch of his height to loom over the slightly shorter male. "And even then, poor ones that are barely worth the time spent. Do not tempt me to fall back on… mmm, let us call them 'my darker days,' yes?"
Amara found herself looking back and forth between the two. Blood still pumping with adrenaline, she wasn't quite sure what to do. Movement caught her eye, and she turned to see Claire rushing over with a fake smile on her face. Chris and Leon were on her heels.
"Wesker," Claire started through gritted teeth. "I told you not to-"
"Dear Heart," Wesker interrupted the red-head, his smirk widening. "Perfect timing. This useless piece of filth dared to physically assault one of your beloved heroes. Ms. Garcia, would you be a darling and show Claire your arm?"
Amara contained a wince at being called out. At Richardson's pained glare. But rather than be intimidated, she held up her arm and pulled up the sleeve of her dress to reveal the rapidly forming bruise in the shape of a large hand. True, her body would make short work of it before the hour was up, but for the moment, it looked like it would turn into a very nasty bruise. Claire let out a hiss, and both the men behind her let out quiet growls.
"Chris? Leon?" Claire began, her fake grin turning almost vicious. "Please escort the Senator out of the building."
"You can't- ack !" Richardson winced as Wesker's grip tightened again, forcing him to shut his mouth.
The blonde tilted his head, still smirking, and gave the man a shove toward. The pair grabbed Richardson by the upper arms and all but lifted him into the air in their eagerness to remove him from the building.
"I'll need to take care of this," Claire said with a sigh, turning back to Amara. "I'll be back with an ice-pack, Ms. Garcia. I am so sorry that this happened."
Claire was gone before Amara could say anything. Feeling decidedly dazed, she found herself staring at Wesker in confusion. Lorraine rushed over, two drinks in hand. Lorraine passed one glass to Wesker, who took it without a word and handed the other one to Amara. Amara took the fluted glass reflexively and blinked at the bubbly drink.
"Amara, are you alright?" Lorraine asked worriedly, reaching out. Her hand hovered over the visible bruise, and Amara tugged the sleeve back in place, ducking her head.
"I'll live… If you'll excuse me? Thank you for the champagne," Amara said quietly in answer, turning to head toward the doors leading to the wide balconies overlooking the view of the city.
She slipped outside, closing the doors behind her and moving out of view of anyone who might want to catch sight of her. Placing her glass on the edge of the tall, wide barrier, she wrapped her arms around herself and allowed the tears of stress to fall down her cheeks. Part of her hated herself for having fallen for Richardson in her youth. She'd been so bright-eyed and foolish. Blind to the truth of him until it was too late.
Amara had been lucky when she'd fled that first time and tried to start a new life. Luckier still to evade the man long enough to find herself here. To find friends and new siblings and even love...
The door opened behind her, almost too soft to be heard. It closed just as softly. Heels clicked closer, and she stiffened. The person leaned against the stone banister next to her, and a moment later, a soft silk handkerchief was being held out to her. She looked up and found Lorraine offering her a small, consoling smile.
"Hate seeing a lovely lady cry," the brunette said in a gentle voice. "But I know you need to let things out after something like that. I'd give you a hug, but I'm not sure if you'd welcome it right now."
"Thank you… Though, lovely isn't something I'd describe myself as," Amara said with a watery laugh, reaching out to take the handkerchief and wipe at her tear-stained face. "And I... I wouldn't mind a hug, honestly."
"You are, though. No matter what that shit-stain tried to instill in you, you are lovely," Lorraine said, shifting to draw her into a gentle, almost sisterly hug that had Amara leaning into the other woman for comfort. "He signed his political death warrant today. You won't have to worry about him again."
"You don't know Richard… not like I do," Amara said with a tired sigh. "This incident will be swept under the rug like all the rest..."
"Hey," Lorraine pulled back, reaching up to brush some of Amara's tears away with her thumbs. "I know and have dealt with men like him before, and Leon has all the evidence he needs now. Today was just the cherry on top if you will. Richardson doesn't stand a chance. Especially not when your beau has his sights set on a target."
A little scoff escaped her, and she looked off to the side. Sure, Leon had managed to root out a few crimes that could be laid at Richard's feet. The man might go to jail for small shit, but she was almost positive that what he'd done to her - what he might have done or was doing to others - would never come to light. Richard had been in charge of so many aspects of her life.
Her doctor had been in his pocket for one, and all of her medical files after she'd started to date him had been eradicated. He'd taken great pleasure in burning the physical paperwork right in front of her and gloating that he'd had her digital records destroyed as well. Amara had healed better than most people, even when she was younger. Had survived things that she probably shouldn't have and-
Lorraine jolted her out of her thoughts by giving her another firm hug and tapping her under the chin as she stepped back. Amara raised a brow at her.
"Let's change the subject, hm?" Lorraine asked with a tilt of her head and a somehow knowing smile. "No more thoughts about that waste of space, yes?"
"Alright," Amara said with a watery chuckle. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Well, I need to ask," Lorraine said with a grin, picking her drink back up. "I've seen Albert upset, happy, even gleefully murderous when talking about ruining Umbrella and Spencer and several other idiots… but I have never seen the look you put on his face tonight. What in the world did you say to him?"
"Oh, that," Amara let out another laugh, this one a little less pained. "Mmm... it's a secret."
"Come on, don't leave me hanging," Lorraine gave her elbow a nudge, her grin playful and wicked. "What if I need that 'secret' later for myself?"
"Well..." Amara tilted her head, leaning against the stone banister. She let out a huff. "How about a hint. You already have access to it. After all, what's in a name?"
"Pardon?" Lorraine tilted her head thoughtfully before sipping her drink. "What's in a-oh, my gods. No. No . You didn't!"
Lorraine burst into a fit of giggles, covering her mouth to try to stifle the noise. Amara laughed in turn, feeling a little better. She looked up at the sky, taking in the sight of the full moon. Lorraine's laughter petered off, and she turned to follow Amara's gaze. They stood in silence for a few minutes before Lorraine pushed away from the railing, holding her arm out to Amara.
"No rest for the wicked," she said with a smile. "Let's head back inside. We both have rounds to make, Ms. Hero."
"I'm not a hero," Amara said with a bemused shake of her head. "Just... a weird soldier."
"You are a hero," Lorraine said, her expression turning serious. "I don't think we would have pulled through with so few casualties if you and Ms. Brea hadn't been present. We would have lost Kennedy for certain and-Ah, Albert. You need something…?"
"Yes, Lorraine," Wesker signaled them over before indicating the tall, gray-haired mountain of a man he was talking to. "You remember Mr. Gionne? This is-"
"N-Natalia?" the old man, cutting off Wesker. Amara noted that the man had gone oddly pale. The wine glass in his hands slipped from nerveless fingers to crash against the ground, pulling everyone's attention on the four of them. "You're alive…? My baby girl is alive…?"
"I... uh... sorry?" Amara asked, eyes going wide as she pushed a little bit against Lorraine. Weird that the name seemed familiar. Weirder still was the man's equally hopeful and lost gaze.
"You… I'm sorry" the older man shook his head, swallowing roughly. "Perhaps this may sound a bit personal, young lady. But were you adopted? And do you know when were you born?"
She shared a confused look with Lorraine. The crowd had eased back a few paces, both to give them all more room and also to get a better view of the growing spectacle. Excella Gionne had abandoned her date and was moving their way, concern for her father on her face.
"Umm… I was born February fourteenth of nineteen-eighty," she said slowly, frowning at the older man. "And, yes, I am adopted... Why?"
"Would you… would you consent to running a paternity test?" he asked, closing his eyes and pinching his nose. "I... no. Perhaps it is too much to hope, but…"
"Father?" Excella asked, moving up to the older man's side. "What is going on? Are you well?"
"I am fine, Excella… and," he shook his head again and took a deep breath. "Again, I am sorry, but... Your older sister. Taken and... and I... Young miss, you look just like my Vittoria and... Perhaps I am being an old fool, but... please?"
"I... I don't think anything will come of it, sir," Amara began hesitantly, feeling keenly the pain emanating from the man before her. "But if it will help put your mind at ease..."
"Thank you," he said, his voice a whisper as he caught her smaller hand in his large one. "Thank you. You are right. Nothing may come of this... but I would regret not asking... So thank you for being willing to indulge this old fool."
Amara grimaced and glanced around her. Wesker stood nearby, looking impassive and curious. Lorraine looked confused and curious. Excella looked even more concerned for her father as if he was talking crazy… and the crowd was just eating it up. Leon and Chris walked over to her side, back from their errand, and both of them looked equally confused by what was going on. Their eyes landed on where the older man was gripping her hand with almost desperate hope on his face.
What in the world was going on...?