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[ask-a-w]

Absent Mind Chapter 11: Return To Normalcy

AO3

FF.net

Previous chapter: Chapter 10 - Like Old Times

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Author's Note: This is the last chapter and it begins with smut. ;)

Snaking his hands around his wife’s waist, Leon brought Ada flush against him as he thrusted into her repeatedly. They were supposed to get ready for work but seeing her bent over the sink stirred his primal lust. 

Ada was more than happy to acquiesce as she planted one hand against the mirror to steady herself. “Oh, Leon…” She moaned as she gripped onto her husband’s arm with her other hand. 

He was close and could feel Ada’s tell tale tightening around his shaft as she was nearing her climax too. There was a shiver down Ada’s spine as she trembled and both of them let out a cry of ecstasy, tumbling into the abyss of orgasmic bliss. He seared her with his heat as the excess trickled down her thigh. 

Leon panted hard against her shoulder before kissing her neck, inhaling her sweet scent that she had spritzed on. 

“You are insatiable,” Ada said teasingly. 

Ever since his recovery, they were copulating almost daily, with occasions of fornicating multiple times a day. 

“And you love it,” he murmured huskily in her ear before pulling out slowly. The blonde then grabbed a washcloth to help her clean up. 

“Perhaps I need to set my alarm earlier if we keep doing this on a work day,” his wife replied coyly as she put on a touch of lipstick. 

Both eventually got dressed and ate a simple breakfast of peanut butter on toast along with a side of berries. 

Ada picked up her tea cup and took a sip, “Are you looking forward to your first day back to work?”

“Hmm…” Leon hummed as he chewed his toast. “Now that the policy has been implemented, I’m predicting there’s a mountain of paperwork at my desk. I’ve been scheduled for meetings and briefings too. It’s not going to be a walk in the park…” He leaned back in his chair with a sigh.

The blonde reached over to grasp his wife’s hand. “But at least I get to come back home to you every day.”

“Don’t strain yourself, handsome,” She replied with a smile. He had cleared his final medical examination a week ago and all the scans indicated no permanent damage in his head. 

They then washed up the dishes and headed to the garage. Instead of walking to his own Cadillac, Leon followed Ada to her Lexus. She raised an eyebrow at him and he responded by gently cupping her face and planting a long, searing kiss on her lips. 

“I love you, Ada. I'll see you tonight.” 

His wife grinned back. “I love you too, Leon. Have a good day.”

He had never been shy about displaying his devotion towards her but ever since the accident, he had been a lot more affectionate. Not that she was complaining. It was a refreshing change that she enjoyed. 

The couple got into their respective cars and drove on mostly the same streets before pulling off into separate routes as they approached downtown. 

-------------------

Despite spending time doing a morning activity with Ada, Leon managed to reach his workplace twenty minutes earlier than the official start time. With his briefcase and a small paperbag in hand, he quickened his steps when he saw an elevator door closing in the lift lobby. 

“Wait up, please!” He called out and the occupant inside must have heard him as the doors swooshed open. 

The blonde stepped in to find a familiar face with long brown hair smiling at him, “Morning Leon, it’s been a while.”

“Good morning, Helena,” Leon replied as he pressed the ‘close’ button.He then eyed her sports attire with a look of curiosity. “Did you just finish a gym workout?”

The doors closed and the elevator cabin slowly rose up.  “Haven’t you heard about the new fitness tiers that rolled out last week?” She asked and Leon nodded, grateful that Helena seemed unaware that the whole fitness tier policy was related to him. “Field agents have been scheduled to take the fitness tests first.”

“That early in the morning huh…”

“Yeah…” Helena exhaled a sigh. “But the good thing is we get to knock off an hour early as compensation.”

He smiled, “Sounds like a fair deal.”

The elevator arrived at their floor and both of them stepped out but angled their strides in separate directions. 

“Just wish they would give us more time to freshen up. I can’t go meeting people smelling like this.” She gestured to herself. 

In Leon’s opinion, she did not smell at all but who was he to police one’s personal hygiene? “Don’t let me keep you then.”

“Thanks. Let’s catch up over a coffee break next time,” she gave him a wave before she sprinted off to her locker, leaving Leon alone in the lobby. 

They were frequently assigned as field partners after Lanshiang and he was proud of how Helena had matured into such a capable agent. Even though he had transitioned to a trainer role and their interactions were far and few between, they still got along well like long lost friends. 

It was a quiet, uneventful journey to his office and he winced slightly at the musty odour upon opening the door. Stifling a cough and waving a hand in front of his face to fan away the smell, he set his belongings down on his chair and opened a window for ventilation. 

The blonde then surveyed his desk. There were two neat stacks of items on it. One was bigger than the other. Someone must have come into his office to arrange them. Hunnigan was the most likely culprit. 

He picked up the first envelope from the smaller pile and tore it open. 

Get Well Soon! 

A little blush of embarrassment crept onto his cheeks. He quickly sifted through the greeting cards and boxes of snacks. They were mostly from immediate colleagues. At least the whole department did not know about his medical leave. He placed the items aside and proceeded to tackle his paperwork. 

At the top was a clipboard with his schedule for the day. The first was a short discussion with Hunnigan followed by a series of meetings with various staff. There were no training sessions that he had to oversee for today. Guess he needed to be brought up to speed first. 

With the clipboard in one hand, he grabbed the paperbag from his chair with the other hand and headed out for his first appointment. The window was left open to air out the room. 

He headed to the FOS’s floor, a place where he had not stepped into for a long time ever since he became a trainer. Despite that, the environment was still familiar to him and Leon’s feet automatically carried him to Hunnigan’s office. The light was on and he rapped his knuckles on the door. 

“Come in.”

The blonde tugged the handle and stepped inside. He surveyed the room with a sense of nostalgia. Her desk was neat, as always. With her coffee mug to her left, the giant computer monitor in the middle, and a set of stationery on the right. 

“Glad to see you back. You’re punctual today,” Ingrid spoke without looking up. 

“Might as well get an early start with the stack of paperwork on my desk. You didn't have anything to do with that, did you?”

She glanced up at him. “Someone had to make sure you didn't get too lost on your first day back at work.”

Leon cracked a small smile. “You have my thanks as always, Hunnigan. Never knew what I'd do without you.” He extended the hand that held the paperbag. “By the way, Ada insisted on giving this to you.”

“That's… generous of her,” she replied politely and took the bag which had some heft to it. They were certainly not the best of friends but there was no doubt this incident had brought both women a little closer. 

“With that aside, I'm sure you are wondering why I'm on your schedule,” Ingrid said as she set the bag beside the coffee mug. 

Leon wagered a guess, “A briefing of some sort?”

She nodded her head. “You already know about the new fitness tier policy. But I just want to tell you that Director Martin approved it albeit reluctantly.” 

Hunnigan remembered the deep frown lines on the older man’s face as he read the policy’s document in the final meeting when various members put it to a vote. Thankfully the majority were in favour of it and he had no choice but to give his stamp of approval. The hard look he shot in her direction at the end of the meeting was branded into her mind. 

The brunette quickly shoved down that memory and continued, “And there are some agents who are fussing about waking up early for the fitness assessment so I wouldn't mention that this started because of you.”

“I see,” Leon could see Hunnigan’s visage was a little downcast. “Has anyone been making things difficult for you?”

She looked up and gave him a small smile, “Thank you for your concern, Leon. Truthfully, they're just talking behind my back. It'll pass.”

After more than a decade of being his support agent, they had built a solid rapport with each other and both knew they would do anything for a friend. 

“I noticed I don’t have any training scheduled for today even though I cleared medical,” Leon spoke, changing the subject to work matters. 

“There has been a backlog of meetings for you to attend when you were away. You need to settle those first,” she replied matter-of-factly. “Afterwards, you’re responsible for your own schedule. You’re no longer a field agent and there’s no reason for me to continue giving you support.”

Leon clutched the area above his heart in mock sadness. “You wound me, Hunnigan.”

Ingrid rolled her eyes, “I will still be here for you as a friend. I hope you see our relationship as such.”

The blonde grinned, “Of course. I better get going then, see you around.”

Hunnigan gave him a quick wave as he left the office and when his footsteps faded away, she glanced at the paper bag. Curiosity got the better of her and she peeked in. 

A navy blue box was within and she took it out. There was a bit of weight to it and she carefully tugged on the ribbon. Gingerly opening the cover, she found a thank you card at the top, followed by an envelope of vouchers for some spa and massage sessions. 

At the bottom was a golden box of artisanal chocolates and a silver tin of gourmet coffee beans. 

There was a cylindrical object wrapped in paper that was sandwiched between the snacks. Hunnigan unfolded the paper to find a lavender scented reed diffuser. 

She returned her attention to the greeting card and flipped it open. Her eyes perused Ada’s elegant cursive writing. 

Thank you for watching out for Leon after all these years. Please enjoy these. 

A small smile graced Ingrid‘s lips. Ada was really spoiling her. Despite the short note, who knew Leon’s wife could be so sweet? Ingrid pulled out her phone and fired off a quick text. 

[txt] Thanks for the lovely gift. I’ll make sure to pamper myself. 

Her device buzzed moments later and she read the reply on the screen. 

[txt] You’re most welcome. 

-------------------

Leon Kennedy opened the door to his office with an exhausted sigh and he tossed the clipboard on his desk before loosening his tie and draping his jacket over his chair. 

Finally, he was done with all the exhausting but necessary discussions. It took up much of his day and the blonde was relieved that he could make it back to his little sanctuary before the last hour of the workday. 

There was not much time left to tackle the paperwork but he could plan out his schedule for the next few days. He fired up the workstation and checked his emails. Mostly internal company circulars. His eyes scanned through the couple of training sessions he was assigned for the week; one for knife work and another for close quarters combat. 

He was in the midst of blocking his calendar when the bookcase on the wall began to slide open. Leon could only pinch his nose as he felt a headache coming on. 

There was only one man who had access to the secret entrance and he did not want a repeat of what happened last time. Still, he left his pistol on the table in plain sight. 

A bespectacled older gentleman with greying hair stepped into view and made a beeline for him. Not wasting any time, Leon immediately said, “Can I help you, Director Martin?” His voice was a little clipped from displeasure and he hoped it would go unnoticed. 

Reginald was unfazed and cast a quick gaze across the room, “Just looking around.” He then carefully eyed the younger agent, “And hoping you could change your mind.”

Agent Kennedy crossed his arms, “I’m afraid my decision is final.”

Both of them stared at each other in silence and the tension was thick. Leon kept posture and continued to maintain eye contact. They were not going to strongarm him into going back to the field now, would they? 

“What a pity,” Reginald replied a few seconds later, “You were our top operative.”

There was a shrug from Leon, “I’m sure I’ve been surpassed by others. Agents Harper and Birkin have shown stellar performance on the field too.”

“Indeed, they have. But you are still unmatched, after all. You are able to single-handedly accomplish what is typically done by a small team.”

Leon wondered if it was a blessing or a curse to have such a reputation. Before his marriage, he was going on never ending missions like clockwork and his apartment was kept spartan as he hardly lived in it. It was a miracle he had not suffered a mental breakdown. 

“We’ll have to ramp up recruitment,” Director Martin interrupted Leon’s train of thought and the blonde could only stare at him in slight astonishment. The older man’s words indicated that he was dropping the issue and that was a huge relief. 

“Did you manage to plug the leak?” Leon changed the subject. 

“Since you’re no longer a field agent, that’s classified.”

He had to stifle his chuckle, “Touché.” 

“Enjoy your new role, Mr. Kennedy. I hope you train your successor soon.” 

With that, Reginald turned around and strode off. When he cleared the entryway, Leon quickly thumbed a switch to close the bookshelf. 

That went better than he expected and he could only thank his lucky stars. 

Speaking of stars, an idea popped into his mind. Leon unlocked his phone and sent a message to Ada. 

[txt] Do you want to have dinner under the stars tonight?

Her reply was instantaneous. 

[txt] Sure ;)

-------------------

Ada was abuzz with anticipation for dinner and waited impatiently for the traffic light signal to turn green. Leon was usually not this spontaneous for their dates but she appreciated his efforts, nonetheless. He probably had a good day at work and was celebrating. 

She found herself tapping the steering wheel and chided herself for this little tic. The lights flashed in her favour and she drove her car forward, heading towards the road that would lead them to their matrimonial home. 

The shutters to their garage opened up when her car was within the transponder’s radius and she pulled her car into the garage. She grabbed her belongings before opening the door into the living room just as the shutters clanged shut behind her. 

Ebony chirped a happy meow at her from the sofa and jumped off, running up to her owner and rubbing Ada’s legs eagerly. 

“Hi Ebony,” the raven haired woman cooed at the black cat and saw Cobalt not too far behind. “Hello to you too, Cobalt.” Ada knelt down and gave them scritches between their ears and under their chins. Both felines purred loudly before they scampered off. 

“Welcome home, gorgeous,” Leon called out from the kitchen where he was busy packing their food and utensils into a basket. 

His wife walked in and eyed the items on the table with a playful twinkle in her eye, “That looks interesting. Are we having a dinner picnic in the backyard?” 

He shook his head, “I want to check out a spot that overlooks the town and it also gives us a clear view of the sky.” 

Ada walked closer to her husband and wrapped her arms around him from behind. “I suppose I should shower when I get back then. Do I need a change of clothes?” 

The blonde took the hand on his waist and kissed the back of it. “What we’re wearing is fine.” 

His wife hummed lightly in the back of her throat, “What brought this on?” 

Leon turned around in his spouse’s embrace and gently touched foreheads with her, “I was feeling happy at work today.”

“I’m delighted for you, Leon, Ada leaned in for a quick kiss and he returned the gesture with vigour, sending a little tingle down her spine.  

“We better get going if we want to catch the sunset,” he murmured against her dainty mouth and reluctantly pulled away, turning his attention back to the basket. 

“Are we taking your car or mine?” She asked as she pulled off her jacket and draped it on the back of the dining room chair. Ada did not need it on this slightly warm evening. 

He pondered on that question for a brief moment. Eyeballing the basket, he mentally calculated if it would fit into the trunk of Ada’s Lexus. His vehicle was roomier. “Mine then.” Leon then turned his attention to their pets, “You two don’t throw any wild parties when we’re gone.”

His words elicited a snicker from his wife. 

Snapping the lid shut, he took the basket off the table and the Kennedy couple headed to Leon’s Cadillac. The blonde spent a moment studying the GPS as it was a route they were unfamiliar with. Satisfied that there were no challenging turns up the hill, he started the engine and moved off. 

The ride was uneventful and they spent it chatting about a supernatural show they were currently bingeing, speculating on what would come next and criticizing the sometimes sloppy action sequences. 

“Maybe they should hire us as stunt coordinators,” Leon mused out loud.

“And charge them more since we’ve been through hell on earth and have the experience,” came Ada’s response. 

There was more laughter from her husband, “Something we can consider then…” 

The car arrived at a flat clearing on a hilltop just as the sky began to turn into shades of oranges and purples. Leon killed the engine and stepped out, opening the trunk to retrieve their wicker basket. He pulled out a checkered picnic mat and set it on the ground just as Ada called out, “We can set up dinner later, the sun’s almost setting.”

Her fingers beckoned him over with a wave and Leon’s breath briefly hitched in his throat at the sight. Ada looked absolutely stunning against the sunset as a gentle breeze blew on her dark tresses and she had a small grin on her face. 

He flitted over like a bee to honey and laced his fingers with hers. Both stood in silence as they gazed at the natural phenomenon happening in front of them. 

“Come to think of it, isn't this the first time we admired a sunset together?” Leon said as he hugged his wife close to him. 

Ada pursed her lips briefly in thought, “It seems you're right.”

“Do you wanna do this more often, beautiful?”

“Of course, handsome.”

Soon, they were blanked by darkness and the first pinpricks of starlight dotted the sky. Switching on the flashlight on his phone, Leon guided his wife to the picnic mat. They sat down and he opened the basket, pulling out a couple of solar lamps which quickly illuminated in response to the darkness. He deactivated the light on his phone and laid out their spread of food. 

There were two small bowls of couscous salad, a tray of rotisserie chicken, a box of cookies, and a couple of bottles of sparkling cider. 

“Interesting feast we got here,” Ada said as she popped the cider bottle and her husband followed suit.

They toasted their bottles as Leon replied, “It’s the easiest picnic food that I could come up with on short notice.” 

His wife grabbed the bowl of couscous and began to dig in. She savoured the tiny granules that had walnuts, raisins, tomatoes, and cucumber in it. “I have no complaints about this, what about you?”

“I’m good too.” 

The couple glanced upwards every now and then to admire the constellations. Their conversation turned to navigation using the stars.

“It’s a handy thing to know but useless on a cloudy or rainy night,” Ada concluded their discussion as she licked her spoon clean. Her hand went for the drumstick that was sticking out of the tray and she flinched when a bright white light suddenly shone on them. 

Both of them tensed up and went into alert mode as they had a split second to decide on what to do next. How could they have gotten so engrossed in each other that they could be sneaked up on? 

“Good evening, I’m just patrolling the area,” a male voice spoke out from behind the light before anything untoward could occur. The man angled his torch to the side and they could make out an officer in uniform.

Leon visibly relaxed his posture and greeted the cop, “Hi sir, we are just having a little dinner date.” 

“That’s nice. Do clean up after yourselves when you’re done, alright?” 

“Will do,” Leon replied cordially. “Have a good evening.”

“You too,” the policeman made his way to the trees that were surrounding them and swept his torch across the foliage. Satisfied with his inspection, he walked away from the hilltop and left the couple alone. 

When they could no longer hear his footsteps, did Ada exhale a relieved sigh. “We must be losing our touch if we didn’t notice him coming up.”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, hun,” he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “It’s natural to have our guard down when we go on dates anyway. We can’t always pretend to be constantly on the battlefield.” 

“You’re right,” she relented before returning back to the drumstick. A burst of juice and flavour exploded in her mouth. “Mm, the chicken is great. Quite succulent. Did you roast this?”

“Nah, it’s from the grocery store. But I could make some next time.” He took a bite of the chicken too and murmured with approval.

They leaned against each other, taking bites of chicken and sips of cider in between. There were some moments of comfortable silence as Ada nuzzled his neck, sneaking some kisses along his jawline. He returned her affections as they made out in the dark. A small part of Leon held some restraint though as they were on public property. 

With the chicken finally demolished, it was time for dessert. “I know you prefer lava cake but it’s too messy for a picnic. So, I opted for cookies,” the blonde opened up the cookie box and the sweet treats were bigger than his palm. They were currently all the rage now in New York City.

“We’ll have to share these for sure. I won’t be able to finish one by myself,” she teased him and took a piece, breaking it in half and offering him the other. 

Leon merely leaned in to take a bite of the food out of her hand. His lips brushed against her fingers and Ada felt a small spark in the depths of her belly. 

“Well now you have to feed me,” Ada rasped sensually and dropped the remainder of the cookie into his palm. 

“Here you go,” her husband said sweetly and Ada nibbled on the morsel, lightly sucking the melted chocolate off his fingers as she did so. 

It was Leon’s turn to resist his arousal. “Seems you really enjoyed the cookie…” his voice was low and he cupped her chin, bringing their faces close together once more. 

The blonde pulled away before his wife had a chance to deepen the kiss. Ada let out a small grunt of disappointment which did not go unnoticed by Leon. “Let’s finish the date at home,” he said reassuringly. 

A plan was rapidly forming in Ada’s mind as they packed up. She would have to seize the opportunity soon. 

Leon helped Ada off the picnic mat before folding it, draping the fabric over the crook of his elbow before they walked back to his car with the help of the solar lamps. 

He popped open the trunk, stowing everything into it and he heard his wife start up the car. 

“I need some help in the backseat,” she called out to him and Leon shut the trunk before opening the backdoor. 

The blonde’s jaw nearly dropped at the sight of his wife in a state of undress. The buttons on her blouse were completely undone, leaving a red lace push-up bra on display. 

He felt an uncomfortable strain in his pants and swallowed nervously. “What do you need help with, hun?”

“Help me fulfil my need for you,” she said sultrily and began to unzip her skirt. 

It was getting hot and Leon tugged at his shirt collar. “The cop might return.”

“We both know he is done with his patrol for this area. I don’t think I’ll be in the mood when we get home…” she replied in a sing-song manner as she let her skirt drop to the floor, revealing matching underwear. 

Leon knew he could not resist the allure of his wife. He threw caution to the wind and entered the car with a shit-eating grin. “It’s a good thing I’m in the mood now too…” 

Ada smiled back, “Good.” She then practically lunged at him and pinned him against the seat as she positioned herself on his lap, right against his rising bulge. 

A brief moment of surprise flashed through his blue eyes before his hands slid down to her curvy and toned bottom to support her. He pushed his pelvis up rhythmically, generating some much needed friction as his wife grinded against him repeatedly. Her moans got louder as her clit was stimulated. 

Their lips came crashing together as Ada popped open the buttons on his shirt. The need to feel his bare skin against hers thrummed through her body and upon feeling his chest, she exploded with desire. 

They pulled apart as Ada made quick work of Leon’s belt and pants. She reached through the slit of his underwear for his throbbing manhood and he felt a jolt of electricity shoot down his core. 

“I need you…” His voice was a strangled whisper as he tugged at the waistband of her panties. 

Not wanting to destroy good lingerie, Ada shimmied it off with one hand and left the scrap of cloth clinging against one of her thighs. 

Without giving him an opportunity, she impaled herself on him easily, greedily taking his entire length into her. 

She was hot and moist as always. His wife was always practically soaked and ready for him whenever they copulated. Leon’s hips began to undulate and Ada threw her head back with a contented sigh. 

The pulse point on her throat beckoned him like a siren’s call and his mouth latched onto it, tenderly sucking the soft flesh as her sighs turned to cries of desperate need. Leon gave into his passions and marked Ada once more. 

His hands slid up to her smooth creamy back, deftly unhooking the clasps of her bra. One palm quickly went to his wife’s chest and he caressed the mound, feeling her dark nipple pebble under his touch. It made him proud that he was the one that could repeatedly elicit this reaction from her. 

Tonight, his heart was set on pleasuring Ada. It was the least he could after all she had been through in the past few weeks. 

Leon was brought out of his thoughts when felt a squeeze against his shaft and he groaned. His wife was relentless in milking him, but he had to make sure she came before he did. 

The blonde could tell she was almost there anyway, with the way she closed her eyes in deep concentration to focus on her impending orgasm. She had a tendency to tremble in the lead up to it and he felt a small shudder just now.

He moved his hand down to where they were joined, and he rubbed firm circles against the little bud that was her clit. 

Ada’s body seized up in white hot euphoria, “Ah, Leon!” She leaned down and captured his mouth with her own, muffling her cries of ecstasy.

Seeing his wife climax brought him to the edge too and Leon continued to thrust upwards as he poured himself into her, over and over. His eyes fluttered shut from sheer pleasure as he scrunched his brow, concentrating on emptying every last drop.

After what seemed like eternity, they opened their eyes and Ada caressed Leon’s cheek lovingly. 

He turned his head to kiss the fleshy palm of her hand, “What other public spaces should we try next?”

She let out a chuckle, “I never thought you to be an exhibitionist, handsome.”

“You bring out the best in me.”

Ada continued to smile at Leon as he beamed back at her, the sheer elation reaching his blue-grey eyes. 

They were each other’s sun, thriving in each other’s warmth. 

They were each other’s wind, soaring through the air when filled with their beloved’s strength. 

They were each other’s rain, revitalising their souls after a weary day. 

They were each other’s rock, anchoring them to reality upon which they would rest with bliss to the end of their days. 

[ask-a-w]

Hello my friend i am another resident evil fan and I'm collecting the resident evil art book but I couldn't find this art book digitally because it's so shortage and old one you know, I saw you are the one who just have it , could you give me a favor take a picture of its pages the book or at least give me the pictures books that you are not screenshot that you upload in your channel, because I saw some of most pages are not exist, , or you need time I'm not rush bro, thank you so much either 🙏

Learn to take no for an answer.

I will reveal your location & IP address if you try this again. This is your last and final warning.

[ask-a-w]

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No. Spamming me four times in a row is also rude. I also own the artbooks so your offer of sending me PDFs of the books is useless.

Blocked.

[ask-a-w]

Absent Mind Chapter 10: Like Old Times

AO3

FF.net

Previous chapter: Chapter 9 - Before The Storm

Next chapter: Chapter 11 - Return To Normalcy

----------------

Ada had a fairly dreamless sleep for the night and Ebony rested well too, nestled up against her owner and occasionally licking Ada’s face while she was awake from her numerous cat naps.

The raven haired woman woke up slightly after dawn to see her husband slumbering on his stomach. Leon looked so peaceful and she continued to observe his handsome visage. The bruises were gradually fading to a light yellow and she was sure it would be unnoticeable by the weekend. At least he was here with her in bed and not in the hospital. 

She leaned over and brushed her lips against his temple before sliding out of bed to use the bathroom. 

The blonde must have woken up soon after she left as he was knocking on the bathroom door excitedly once she was done in the bathroom. Ada froze for a moment when she heard the good news. 

He got all his memories back? That was great but… that would mean an awkward conversation would ensue. She dried her hands slowly on the towel and dreaded what to say to him. 

Ada opened the door to see a smiling blonde. Her heart clenched at the sight. That grin always made her stomach flutter.  

“Good morning,” she said carefully. “I’m relieved that your amnesia is gone.” And she left it at that as she gazed at him quietly. 

Leon’s smile faltered a bit at her lacklustre response and the silence that ensued. He nodded to Ada and cleared his throat.

“I remember everything, including what happened,” He began, trying to think of the best way to explain the situation. There were a lot of details he had to keep under wraps. 

“I was called on an emergency mission, a top-secret one. I couldn’t risk being detected in any way, or reveal who I was if I got caught. No one could know where I was either, save for very few.”

Ada crossed her arms and glared at him angrily. 

“You had the time to gather your things and leave your belongings behind but you couldn’t leave a simple note to tell me you’re away?”

She pinched her nose and sighed. 

“I’ve been in espionage before and I know the value of secrecy too, Kennedy. I don’t have to know where you’ve gone, I just needed to know that you’re off doing a job. An encrypted message like ‘Gone hunting’ would have sufficed. Was the DSO going to raid our home to ensure you didn’t leave a letter for me?”

“I’m sorry,” Leon said, bristling just a little. “I had to leave as soon as I could.” Truthfully, he was kicking himself for not leaving Ada some kind of a clue. He was usually good at deciphering clues, but he rarely left them. Too bad his instincts did not tell him he should have put more thought into Ada’s feelings.

The angry tones of their voices woke Cobalt up and the ginger cat yawned and stretched. He jumped down from the bed and trotted out to the corridor where he rubbed Ada’s leg. 

She took the opportunity to go down to the cat room to feed him. The feline followed after her eagerly as Leon looked away and sighed, crossing his arms as Ada left.

Right now he wished he still had amnesia, so he would not have to deal with this drama. He wished he could be a cat right now since Cobalt appeared to be blissfully unaware of their fight. It seemed they would be sleeping in separate beds tonight.

Downstairs, Ada poured the kibble into the cat’s bowl and Cobalt ate his fill. She just stayed near, quietly stroking the cat’s fur to kill some time. The ginger feline kept shrugging off her hand and Ada mentally chided herself. Right, she was not supposed to disturb a cat when it was at rest or eating.

With a sigh, Ada went to the kitchen and grabbed a bowl and the box of cereal. She was not in the mood to cook without burning down the house but she still needed some solitude. The raven haired woman also took a bunch of grapes from the fridge to balance out her meal.

Leon decided to stay in the bedroom for now. He was hungry for breakfast but needed to give Ada her space. The blonde held himself over with a glass of water from the bathroom faucet. He gently petted Ebony as he struggled to find a way to reconcile with his wife. 

The little black cat woke up and chirped a greeting, nuzzling his hand with a loud purr before she stretched her body in a little arch. The feline yawned before curling its body against Ada’s pillow to continue snoozing. Leon sighed once more as his stomach growled for the umpteen time. 

His hunger was too great to wait much longer, so he decided to risk it.

Leon went downstairs to the kitchen, but as luck would have it Ada was already there. He cleared his throat to let her know he was there.

“Hey, just getting cereal,” he said as he walked over to the pantry and got a bowl for himself.

A biting comment was on the tip of Ada’s tongue. Leon did not need to tell her everything he was doing when he was right in front of her. Ada could only exhale loudly through her nose as she continued eating her breakfast.

Leon poured his milk and cereal into his bowl and began to eat at the counter, choosing not to sit with Ada at the dining table and avoiding eye contact. He wondered if she would divorce him over his mistake, and he would not blame her if she did.

Loud crunching broke the silence in the kitchen as the couple essentially ignored each other. If only they were on the field, Ada could have thrown a smoke grenade and hookshot away, avoiding conflict altogether until the next time they met.

But they were married now and she couldn’t run away, even if she wanted to. They were adults committed to each other and like it or not, they operated as a unit now. She could not do whatever she pleased.

The blonde poured himself a glass of orange juice. As he did so, Cobalt came wandering into the kitchen. Though he had already eaten, the cat was tempted by the smell of cereal milk.

“No, Cobalt,” Leon said softly as the cat rubbed his leg and looked up at him. He loved his cats and appreciated their cute behavior, but he was not in the mood at the moment.

Cobalt whined a bit when Leon refused to entertain his request for milk. The cat mewed for attention and stood up on its hind legs, pawing at the blonde’s pants. 

Ada could not help but be amused until the cat turned his attention to her. She was done with her grapes but her cereal bowl was still half-full. 

She rubbed the ginger cat’s fur with the tips of her toes, “You’re a good boy, Cobalt, but you know milk isn’t suitable for you. You’re all grown up now.”

Cobalt continued to chirp before curling up under one of the empty bar stools once he realised neither of his owners would grant him milk.

The blonde was tempted to let Cobalt have some milk just to spite Ada, but he thought better of it. Leon did not want Ada to get even angrier with him. Instead, he put the dishes away and went back to the bedroom, where Ebony was still fast asleep. The little black kitten would have been jealous if Cobalt got milk but she did not.

Ada finished up her cereal quietly and sighed when Leon left the kitchen. It seemed their cold war would last a little while longer. Walking to the sink, her feet padded the kitchen floor, feeling how sticky the tiles were. Since they were not going to talk for a while, she decided to busy herself with more chores.

Leon closed the door and stripped down to take a shower. He was not that dirty, and could likely have skipped one today, but he needed something to do to keep himself busy while he and Ada were avoiding each other.

The raven-haired woman began to vacuum up all the non-carpeted services and poor Cobalt was so spooked that he ran into the cat tree for refuge. She eschewed carpets, knowing how filthy they could get in a short period of time. Most of their house was free from them except in the bedrooms. It was a compromise she had to make with Leon when he said he didn’t want to wake up on a cold winter’s day to freezing floor tiles. 

The thought of her husband made her heart clench just a bit before she unplugged the vacuum cleaner from the wall and began to mop up the floors. The scent of floor detergent permeated through the house and she was soon perspiring from the rather laborious task. 

Satisfied that the house was spick and span, she returned to the guest bedroom for a nice long soak in the bath to pamper herself after a morning of hard work.

Just as Ada finished mopping up the floor, Leon was finished with his shower. He felt refreshed and clean, and towel-dried himself off before putting on a tank top, sweat pants, and a pair of slippers. Ebony was fast asleep by now and did not even notice him.

The blonde threw the towel into the laundry hamper, which was getting a little full, with both his and Ada’s clothes. It seemed to Leon like a good time to do the laundry. He picked up the hamper and took it to the laundry room. On the way he could smell the floor cleaner, and realized Ada had been doing chores as well.

Leon sorted out the laundry and loaded it into the washer before adding in the detergent, setting the timer, and starting it up. Not wanting to be idle, Leon decided to head into his office. Might as well start up his post-mission report while he could still remember. 

—-----

Ada turned the faucet in the guest bathroom to its maximum and stripped down as she waited for the tub to fill up. A pity her essential oils were in the master bedroom, she would have to make do with some liquid soap to have a simple bubble bath. 

When the water reached its desired depth and temperature, she stepped in and luxuriated in the bath, cleaning away all the grime on her skin. It had been a while since she pampered herself with a spa treatment and the ex-spy briefly wondered if she should indulge in one, given the current situation.

If they continued to ignore each other, she could not stay in the house every day pretending that he did not exist.

Ada got lost in her thoughts as she contemplated her next course of action. She wasn’t a person who sat idly on the sidelines. Decades of being in espionage taught her to plan out her next move carefully. However, her marriage with Leon wasn’t a one-off assignment though, it was a long-term commitment. Both of them were stubborn individuals when it came down to it, with neither side budging. She would have to think of another way.

Time went by fairly quickly and before she knew it, the bubbles were almost all gone and the water was no longer warm. In addition to that, her skin was getting a little wrinkled up. She reached down to unplug the tub and stood up to turn on the shower, washing away any residual suds lingering on her skin. 

After drying herself, Ada slid on a simple dress. The weather looked fine outside and conducive for a walk. She headed to the master bedroom to deposit her soiled linen only to find that the laundry basket was empty. Leon must have started some chores too. 

Wherever her husband was, she still needed her space. The ex-spy strapped on her watch, took her phone, and headed downstairs to leave the house. The air smelled refreshing and Ada inhaled deeply, enjoying the sweet scent of daisies from the neighbour’s yard in the late morning. 

Unbeknownst to her, grey clouds were looming in the distance as she strolled down the path towards a nearby park near their home. 

At this time of day, she practically had the entire place to herself. Ada wandered over to a swing set and sat down, digging the heels of her sneakers into the sand to pivot herself back and forth. 

Her phone vibrated in her hand and she cast a glimpse. It was from Hunnigan and Ada opened the message. 

[txt] Good news, I managed to fast-track the policy to the review stage. All agents will be assigned different tiers of combat-ready status which will determine if they can be deployed to the field. They need to maintain the status through tests or they’ll drop to the next tier. 

Ada mumbled to herself, “If only this was implemented earlier…”

Still, she shouldn’t look the gift horse in the mouth. 

[txt] Thanks. Leon got all his memories back too. 

Ingrid responded immediately. 

[txt] That’s great! Both of you must be celebrating. 

Ada was tempted to ignore the message but she needed to vent. 

[txt] If you feel that a cold war and taking a walk  alone outside means celebrating, sure. 

There was silence afterward and Ada set her phone to ‘Do Not Disturb’. She slid her phone into her pocket before kicking her feet off the ground to let the swing propel her back and forth. She allowed the momentum to distract her, even if it was just for a short while…

—---

Leon was so engrossed in his report that he failed to register his phone buzzing until it clattered against his cup of iced coffee. He stopped typing and saw Hunnigan’s name flashing steadily on the screen. 

With a quick swipe using his finger, he answered the call. 

“Good morning, Hunnigan. I have some free time today and have started the report of my last mission. I know, I'm still on medical leave but I got my memories back so I figured-”

“I’m happy for you but that doesn't matter right now,” Ingrid cut him off. 

The blonde was taken aback by her snippiness. “Okay…? What's the issue?”

“Do you know where Ada is right now?”

That was an odd question. “Probably somewhere at home.”

“She went out-” and before any more could be said, there was a loud clap of thunder. Ingrid must have heard it too as her voice took on a tone of urgency, “I suggest you find her.”

Ada had stepped out? He did not hear the front door open. Then again, he was focused on his work. “Alright.” 

“And Leon?”

“Yeah?”

“Work can wait,” there was a hidden meaning behind her words and it sounded borderline threatening. 

“I understand. Thank you, Hunnigan.”

“Good luck.” 

And the call ended there. Leon saved his report and put his computer to sleep before standing up. He scrolled through his contacts to locate his wife’s name and dialed her number. 

It went to voicemail. 

Where is she?

He thought to himself as he went back upstairs to throw on a light jacket. It was then that he caught sight of his watch by the bedside table. That gave him an idea. 

Immediately, he opened his phone and clicked the location app that was on top of the screen. There were two names to choose from and he selected Ada’s. The map zoomed out slightly to show his wife’s pin at a nearby park. 

Leon rushed back downstairs and grabbed an umbrella hanging from the stand before heading out. He did look back to ensure the front door was locked before he did a full on sprint down the pathway as another rumble of thunder sounded.

———

Ada was so lost in her thoughts that she did not notice that it had started to rain. She had already resolved to talk things through with Leon when she felt a couple of raindrops fall on her head, lightly dampening her dark tresses. 

It started off as a slight drizzle and Ada stood up, calculating how long it would take to reach home if she walked briskly. Just before she could turn around to head back, the sky flashed white and the rain rapidly grew into a moderate shower. 

She would be soaked to the bone if she tried to book it home. Without an umbrella, the best course of action would be to wait out the storm. Her eyes scanned quickly through her surroundings and she spotted a little gazebo a few yards away. 

Ada took a couple of strides forward before a shadow loomed over her. Dammit, she had failed to notice someone sneaking up on her thanks to the rain. She opened her palm and locked her fingers tightly together and quickly spun around in an attempt to deliver a palm strike. 

Her hand stopped short of landing on her target once she saw her husband panting and holding an umbrella outstretched over her. His blue-grey eyes looked shocked that she almost hit him while his usually golden hair rapidly took on a shade of dark dirty blonde as it got saturated from the rain. 

“Leon?” Ada gaped at him as she dropped her arm to the side. 

“Let’s go home, Ada,” he replied. 

Judging by the size of the umbrella, it could barely fit two of them and she did not want him to get drenched. 

She grabbed his wrist, “You'll be soaked. Let's wait it out in that shelter.”

Both of them ran for cover just as another rumble of thunder boomed. Leon set the umbrella on the floor as they tried to wring out water from their hair and clothes. 

The cacophony from the rapid rainfall was too loud to have a proper conversation anyway. So they both stood around as they stared at the playground. Ada had her arms across her chest the whole time as she rubbed them unconsciously. 

The blonde shrugged off his jacket and draped it over his wife’s shoulders. She did not recoil from him which was a good sign and he left one hand on her shoulder, holding her in a one-armed embrace from the side. 

It must have been a passing shower as the weather eased up and went back into a light drizzle. 

“You didn't say you were going out,” Leon murmured when the silence between them became prolonged and awkward. 

Ada could have retorted with a snide remark but she held her tongue. After all, she had already made up her mind to make peace before the rain disrupted her plans. 

“I needed to clear my head,” she responded genially. “How did you find me, anyway?”

Leon raised an eyebrow at his wife and gently tapped the watch adorned on her wrist. “I remembered its functions after you harped at me for not wearing it.”

Right. That was the whole reason for their disagreement. 

“We might as well talk things out since we’re here…” She went over to the bench to take a seat and her husband followed suit.

Leon spoke first, “I'm sure you heard about the new DSO policy about the different tiers of combat-ready status. Trainers won't be deployed so I won't be out on the field ever again.”

Ada sighed, “So if there wasn't such a policy, you'd still drop everything and go?” Before he could reply, she looked him in the eye, “I'm hurt that you just left without telling me anything. It felt like you value your job more than me.”

The blonde could see the pain in her gaze and his heart clenched. “You're right… I can never say no when a job is pushed to me. At least this policy is a fail-safe.” 

His wife responded with a frown and he ran his fingers through his damp hair, “I can’t go on missions forever. I’ll have to retire eventually.”

“Leon…” she said his name quietly. “The problem is you don't know how to say no to your higher-ups. Even if the policy is in place, what will you do if they keep pushing and requesting that you undertake an assignment? You’re always their go-to agent.” 

“Well, I suppose I’ll just have to get an agreement in writing,” The agent said after a moment and rubbed his thumb across his wedding ring. He was no longer a carefree bachelor with zero commitment. He now had a wife, a family at home waiting for him. His life had to change now. 

Leon thought that being relegated to a desk job was enough but with the government, one could never know how they could twist their words and strong-arm an individual into doing their bidding. 

“We’ll write up a new contract, keeping me on as a trainer, but with no more field missions. Even if they don’t accept that, I’ll just continue to refuse to go.”

Leon did wonder though how far the DSO would go to get him to work for them. They did not have anything they could use against him, did they? He doubted they would ever try anything underhanded against him…

“It also sounds like a good reason to terminate your service too. Any backup plans if that happens?” Ada asked again. She did not want him to leave the field because she pressured him to. She wanted him to leave on his own accord.

The raven-haired woman returned her attention to the weather and noticed the rain had almost stopped. “I don’t want you to regret your decision, handsome,” she said softly.

“If they decide to terminate me, well… maybe I’ll train new recruits at the BSAA.” Leon replied. He really did not have much of a backup plan if he was fired. “Or maybe I’ll just go into early retirement. I do know I want to be home with you, that’s all that matters.”

“Or you can forgo biowarfare altogether,” Ada replied, knowing that most of their adult lives were spent with biological weapons. It was time for them to be rewarded with a normal life.  

“We can always venture into personal fitness or self-defense,” she mused out loud. They had the skills and experience, she didn’t see why they could not turn it into something fruitful.

“Though we do have enough to live comfortably, it’s up to you," she added. Her words meant that she did forgive him for what happened but she would not tolerate a repeated mistake.

Leon could tell Ada was concerned for him. He already made her worry enough. The blonde moved closer to his wife, cupping her cheek. “It will all be okay. I promise.” Leon gently pulled Ada closer to give her a kiss at the corner of her mouth.

“I’m sorry I hurt you, Ada. Please forgive me.”

Ada’s eyes widened slightly when he kissed the side of her mouth. She then softened her facial expression and pulled him closer, “You know you can kiss me on the lips, Leon.”

“That’s also an option…” Leon whispered as he nuzzled Ada’s cheek. He understood what she meant. “I just didn’t want to scare you off, in case you were still upset.”

Now that Leon knew he had permission, he did not hesitate to turn Ada’s face towards him and planted a much more forceful kiss on her lips. Leon wrapped his hand around the back of Ada’s head, his fingers tangled through her silky black hair. The blonde moaned deeply into her mouth, relishing the sensation. Leon had missed this so badly.

The searing heat of Leon’s lips sparked a heat within her and he felt wonderful. It had been weeks since they had any form of physical contact and this display of affection quenched the dry spell she had. He would always be a part of her and she molded against him perfectly like they were built for each other.

She snaked one hand up his broad, muscular chest, and the other threaded through his blonde locks. Ada opened her mouth and welcomed her husband as they kissed passionately, the grey weather outside temporarily forgotten.

His touch and scent were a soothing balm for her soul and she dove into the abyss, relishing everything she loved about Leon. 

Leon groaned softly into Ada’s mouth. His other hand went to her waist and pulled her in a little closer. There were no words, just emotion as they both let themselves love each other again. Leon felt a great wave of relief that they had both overcome the obstacles between their hearts.

The couple did not keep track of how long they had been making out, but they were finally interrupted by another rumble of thunder. Leon exhaled a small sigh through his nose before reluctantly breaking the kiss.

“I think we should head home before another downpour happens,” he said matter-of-factly. 

Ada’s cheeks were slightly flushed as her lips were released from his with a small pop. It was a good thing Mother Nature made its presence known as she was considering having her way with him out in public. “Good idea.”

—----

They took separate hot showers upon reaching home, not wanting to catch a cold. Both knew if they saw each other in the nude, they would be doing something else that didn't involve getting clean. 

Since they had already washed themselves off in the morning, they didn’t have to take too long in the bathroom. 

Ada did not bother putting any clothes on after drying her hair, opting for a simple bathrobe as she walked back to the master bedroom. The weather outside took a turn for the worst once more as it poured even heavier than before. 

Both cats sought refuge under their bed and Ada was trying to coax them out. 

Her husband stepped out of their ensuite bathroom with nothing but a towel around his waist and stared curiously at his wife who was kneeling on the floor and looking under the bed. 

“I'm pretty sure there are no monsters under the bed, last I checked,” Leon called out jokingly. 

“I don't think we want any claws on our bare skin if we want to do an activity together…” Ada replied dryly as she managed to get little Ebony to come out. 

She cuddled the feline against her chest and gave her some scratches on her head as the black feline purred. 

Leon walked over to embrace his spouse as they lightly squished their pet in the middle. “Do you think Ebony and Cobalt are going to keep bothering us?”

“You know we could always tire them out…” she whispered as she handed the cat over to the blonde. 

“We could,” Leon said as he wagged his finger in front of Ebony, coaxing her to bat at it with her little paw. “Maybe we should bring them both to the cat room then and play with them both for a while. Come on.”

The moment they left, Cobalt slinked out from under the bed and trotted behind them eagerly. 

Leon set Ebony down on the floor and grabbed one of the cat toys, a feather on a string.

“Come on, you two love this.” He dangled the feather in front of the cats, and they took turns swiping at it. Sometimes they ran off to hide in a corner before rushing out to pounce on the toy. 

“Hmm, maybe once they’re tired out enough, we could watch a movie, have dinner, then go to bed early tonight?” Leon’s tone was suggestive, and he had to keep his smirk in check. 

“Why watch a movie when we could do something together?” Ada smirked in return and she was tempted to bring out the catnip toys to speed up the process. Being an ex-spy taught her to be patient and wait for the right opportunity to reveal itself but there were certain times when idling by on the sidelines proved to be aggravating.

The cats leapt at the feather at the same moment before ending up in a heap together, play fighting with each other. Their pets wrestled, both attempting to gain the upper hand. 

Was this the chance to quietly sneak out as the felines were distracted? Ada looked to her husband and subtly angled her head towards the door.

Leon nodded to his wife, and the two of them snuck away as their cats began to groom each other. They walked briskly to their bedroom, and Leon closed the door behind him. There was a brief pause before he pulled Ada in close and kissed her fiercely. The cats would not interrupt them this time.

“Mmm, it’s about time,” Leon whispered as he kissed Ada’s jaw and nuzzled her ear, his hands sliding down her back and feeling her slender body. “So, how do you want to do this, since we haven’t done it in a while? It should be special, right?”

His desire turned her on and she wrapped her arms around his back immediately, leaning into the kiss. A soft moan escaped her lips as Leon targeted the soft, sensitive flesh of her ear and neck. 

“Mm, I’m sure we’ll think of something on the fly. Though I have been feeling ignored for too long and I require lots of tender loving care…”

Ada’s hands then snaked down the edge of his towel, lightly teasing the bulge and also feeling up his rear. She traced a finger over the lines of his abs and pulled his hips flush against hers, feeling his arousal. Her lips found his once more and there was a sense of urgency to get things done.

Leon felt that urgency as well, and he did not want to waste much more time. The blonde carefully tugged on the knot holding her bathrobe in place and could see the tops of her cleavage as it slowly became unraveled. 

Until there was a loud clap of thunder followed by the lights going out. Leon was quiet for a moment before he let out a long sigh. “Power’s out… We could keep going in the dark…” 

Technically, sex in a stuffy house without power would be a tad uncomfortable but given how eager they were, it wouldn’t matter either way.

Leon tried to keep going but was interrupted by the sound of Cobalt and Ebony meowing and pawing at their door, frightened. He exhaled a sigh, “Never mind.”

Ada sighed too and touched her forehead against Leon’s, “The universe is against us copulating today, huh?”

“Seems so,” Leon said with a breathy voice as he nuzzled Ada.

She embraced her husband before pressing a quick kiss to his cheek and she fastened her robe closed. Opening the door, she was greeted by the sight of two anxious felines. They quickly rubbed their humans’ legs for comfort.

Meanwhile, Leon decided to put on a robe as well. He would rather be more clothed if he was dealing with something dangerous like electricity. He patted Cobalt’s head before grabbing a flashlight from beside the bed and hanging his towel back in the bathroom. 

“Let’s go to the circuit breaker and turn the power back on.”

They both walked down to the laundry room where the circuit breaker was located, followed closely by the cats as Leon lit the way. It was not that dark, as some light was still coming through the windows, but it was still hard to see in the shadows.

“Let’s see here,” Leon opened the small door to the circuit breaker and shone the torch, finding the master switch. “And let there be light.” He turned the switch, and power was restored to the house. “Glad it wasn’t a total blackout, or else we’d have to eat all the ice cream in the freezer.”

The cats darted away when the lights came back on, giving them some alone time once more. Ada gave her husband a coy glance. “Mm, I do like the sound of ice cream. We could each have a bowl at the counter and see where things take off from there…”

Ada gave him a small smile before walking to the kitchen to grab their dessert. 

“Hmm, I like your idea,” Leon replied and followed Ada. He got the ice cream scoop from a drawer along with the other tableware. 

Their pets soon realized that the lights were harmless and followed their owners, curious to see what they were up to.

“What do you think, handsome? Have they been good enough to be rewarded with treats?” 

“I think they could use some treats after all that thunder.” Leon went to the cupboard and took out a little plastic bag of cat treats. Cobalt and Ebony instantly knew what it was, and went up to Leon to rub his legs and meow.

“I’m giving you treats, no need to beg.” Leon took out a few little pieces in each hand and held them out for Cobalt and Ebony to eat out of his palm. 

Ada and scooped generous servings of chocolate ice cream into two bowls for both of them. She continued to take a peek at her pets which were enjoying eating the treats out of Leon’s hand with relish. A smile formed on her lips as she washed the scoops and dried her hands on a towel. 

It only took a moment before Ebony and Cobalt finished eating their treats. Leon petted them both and they returned the gesture by nuzzling and purring against him. 

The blonde joined his wife at the island counter and both took turns feeding each other, just like old times. The flames of desire just kept building between them and there was an itch that needed to be scratched. 

“Why don’t I take care of the dishes and I’ll meet you upstairs?” Leon said sweetly as he took her bowl and brought it to the sink. 

Ada got the hint and went back to their matrimonial bedroom. She rinsed out her mouth and gave her hair a quick comb before spritzing some perfume on her neck and wrists. After all, she wanted to look and smell presentable for the upcoming event. 

—----

Not letting a second go to waste, the blonde rinsed and scrubbed the dirty dishes, getting all the sticky syrup washed down the drain with soap and water. When they were sufficiently cleaned, he washed them off and placed them on a drying rack. 

With all that done, Leon hastily went back up to the bedroom and closed the door behind him. “Dishes are done,” he said as he went to the connected bathroom to clean up. He did not want to kiss Ada with ice cream breath, no matter how much they enjoyed the dessert. 

Ada nodded to her husband and walked over to the bedroom door to lock it, ensuring that it was secure. Both cats had learned how to open doors that were left slightly ajar and she did not want that to happen later.

Satisfied that everything was in order, Ada adjusted the thermostat to keep the temperature nice and comfortable.

Once Leon was done making himself presentable, he began to loosen the knot on his bathrobe. He wanted to act cool and coy, but Ada always had a way of making him hot and bothered. The blonde shrugged off the top half of the robe, knowing how much his wife enjoyed seeing him bare-chested. 

Walking up behind Ada, he wrapped his arms around her. He breathed in her perfume and sighed before kissing her neck. “Mmm, perfume? You’re serious, aren’t you?” The blond asked huskily as he nuzzled against his wife’s silky, dark hair.

Ada was not surprised to find a pair of muscular arms encircling her. She could feel the heat of his bare chest through the fabric of her robe and she murmured happily as he showered affection on her neck and hair.

She turned around in his embrace and wrapped her arms around him. “Of course, I’ve been lonely for a week…” She whispered and drew her face closer to his, ending it with a deep, burning kiss.

Her hands began to trail down to not-so-innocent places on his body… cupping the obvious erection through his robe that was hanging precariously around his waist. 

Leon moaned into the kiss, his actions mirroring Ada’s as he too began to explore her body, sliding his hand between her robe and slipping a finger into her moist folds. His wife responded with a whining mewl and shudder and it made him want her, right now. Leon silently ran his other hand up the length of Ada’s back, going higher and higher till it reached the nape of her neck, just to pull her as close to him as possible. He relished the taste of her mouth and the sweet scent around her.

“Mmm, Ada,” Leon whispered when their kiss broke. “Let’s take this somewhere more comfortable.” With a deft movement, Leon lifted her up like a bride as she yelped in surprise. He carried her over to the bed, gently lowering her down upon the mattress before climbing on top of her. He continued to ravish his wife, growing more fervent with each passing second.

Arms and legs tangled with each other as the couple made out on the bed. Ada eventually managed to get on top of the blonde, pressing her body against him and feeling his eager hardness on her thigh. She reached down to undo the knot, revealing his bare flesh to her. Ada began to stroke him as she leaned down for another searing kiss. 

Leon stiffened as she touched him, and then kissed Ada deeply as he began to grind into her palm. His own hands slipped past the cloth of her robe to feel her own smooth, bare skin. The blond cupped one of her soft sensitive breasts and lightly pinched a brown nipple. The other hand began to peel the fabric from Ada’s body, exposing more of her to him.

“Oh, Leon…” Ada moaned her husband’s name as he teased her nipple and felt a pleasurable tingle shooting down to her core. All that time away from Leon made her easily aroused and receptive to his touches. 

As they kissed, Ada released the hold on her husband and she untied the knot on her own robe, aiding Leon in his quest to get naked. They parted briefly when she tossed the clothing to the other side of the room, leaving her in nothing but her birthday suit. Her hands quickly returned to Leon’s robe to get it out of the way. 

Leon allowed Ada to undress him, and his manhood stood tall before Ada. He flipped them over, and once more he leaned in to kiss Ada’s lips. Then he moved his mouth down to her neck followed by her chest. He licked his wife’s breast, tasting her nipple and flicking it with his tongue before taking the teat into his mouth. His other hand grasped and kneaded her other boob.

There was a look of surprise on Ada’s visage followed by a grin when Leon abruptly flipped them over. She usually took the lead but when he became dominant, Ada knew she would be in for a wild ride. Her head tilted back with pleasure as her husband lavished attention on her sensitive nipple.

One hand threaded his blonde hair while the other rested on the back of his hand that was currently on her breast. She whispered words of encouragement as he continued to pleasure her with his mouth. All the attention was making her positively soaked. 

“I’m going to treat you like a queen…” Leon whispered before he switched sides and pleasured Ada’s other breast. “You deserve it, for all you’ve done.”

Raising a slight eyebrow when he said he would be pampering her, she smiled at him. “I look forward to it. But first, shouldn’t you get comfortable?” She angled her head to his manhood that was rubbing on her thigh. 

“I’ll get to that soon,” Leon replied before giving her breast one last hard suckle, lightly pinching Ada’s nipple with his teeth, but not quite biting down. He slowly pulled away and sat up, re-adjusting himself further down her body. 

It took all the willpower within Ada to stop herself from pulling on Leon’s hair when he nipped at the sensitive nerve endings of her dark nipple. Instead, Ada just let out a soft curse as a jolt of pleasure shot down her spine. 

He peppered kisses around her belly button, before going down until he was face to face with her crotch. Leon continued to tease her by kissing her thighs, going nowhere near her erogenous zone. 

Her husband was really committed to providing her with the most intense foreplay session ever. 

“Maybe you should get amnesia more often if this is how I’ll be rewarded,” she said as she tried to string a coherent thought.

“More amnesia?” Leon said with a cocked eyebrow as he was done leaving a love bite on her skin. “Well, so long as I don’t forget you, or forget how to do this.” At that last word, Leon dove his face between his wife’s legs and lapped at her womanhood. He moaned as he felt Ada’s warm thighs surround his head, and his tongue quickly found Ada’s clitoris.

“Fuck!” Ada swore out loud as Leon went straight for her clit and she bunched up the bedsheets under her hand, holding on for dear life as her husband played her like a well-lubricated instrument. She loudly vocalized her pleasure with each lick and it wouldn’t take long for her to descend down the abyss of ecstasy. 

The blonde felt the urge to forego the foreplay and mate like animals with his wife, but he made a promise to Ada to treat her like a queen. Leon’s tongue rubbed circles around her clit, grazing his teeth against it on occasion. He also made sure to slip through her hot folds, tasting every bit of his wife’s nectar.

Her hips impatiently moved against his face, wanting more of him. She was hungry for more and needed to be satisfied. The way his tongue darted within her made her curse again and she felt herself grow insanely wet and aroused. Ada opened her legs a little wider to help Leon gain more access.

Ada’s swearing only encouraged Leon to go further. He held the backs of Ada’s thigh and pushed his tongue in deeper, nipping at her labia or her clit each time he pulled out for air. He would not stop until his wife had reached a climax, or until she told him to stop.

Leon moaned again as he ran his tongue all over Ada’s womanhood. She was incredibly moist and relaxed now, like putty in his hands. As much as it seemed like he was dominating her with his mouth, Leon was still the one serving Ada.

Ada continued to melt under his touch as he rapidly brought her to the edge of her orgasm. She whimpered his name over and over as he swiped at her sensitive bits with his talented tongue. 

With one last lick and suck, the pressure in her belly exploded, filling her body with a tingling sensation of pleasure. She trembled slightly from the aftershocks and she panted to catch her breath. 

Her husband was pulling out all stops today and she was appreciative of his efforts. “Thank you, Leon…” She whispered and reached down to stroke his blonde hair.

Leon felt Ada tremble and shudder as she finally hit her peak. He slowly pulled his face away, then kissed and nuzzled at her well-toned thigh.

“You’re welcome, dear,” The blonde said, appreciating his wife’s affection. He rubbed the inside of her thigh with his cheek, feeling how hot she had become. 

Leon pushed himself up and crawled up the bed until he was face to face with Ada.

“Do you still have some energy left, Ada?” Leon whispered as he then began to kiss her neck. “There’s still more.”

Ada’s face was still flushed with post-orgasmic bliss and the way he kissed her neck made her even more hot and bothered. Leon just knew how to push all the right buttons to make her satisfied in bed.

“For you, I’ll always be energetic. I’m eager for sex now,” she whispered as she wrapped her arms around him, ready for intercourse. Hands went down to his chin to gently tilt his head up to face her and she leaned in for another kiss. She could taste herself on his lips and she didn’t mind it one bit.

Leon sighed happily into the kiss as he reached down to fondle Ada. She was definitely ready, and so was he, but he wanted to give his wife the full treatment, and there was one more dish to serve before the main event.

The blonde slipped two digits inside her, feeling every hot fold twitch around his fingers. He pumped them in and out as they continued to make out, rubbing her clitoris with his thumb when he could.

Ada whined a little when he slipped in something else other than his manhood but she kissed him fiercely when he moved his fingers expertly around her. Since she had just orgasmed a few moments ago, she was still super sensitive and Leon was bringing her to the edge again. 

She broke the kiss and commanded, “Curl your fingers upwards…”

Leon nodded to Ada and did as she asked. He curled his fingers and pressed them up against his wife’s pleasure center. He sucked on her lower lip as he massaged his wife’s G-spot, wondering how soon she might reach her peak again.

His manhood was pressed up against Ada’s thigh, and Leon unconsciously began to rub up against her smooth, creamy skin. He could not wait much longer to properly make love to her.

A few more elated sighs escaped Ada’s lips as he caressed her G-spot repeatedly. She responded to his kiss by reaching down to stroke the hard length of his manhood, returning the kindness he was bestowing upon her at this moment. All good deeds in bed were always reciprocated. Her thumb lightly massaged the ridge and tip of his throbbing penis. 

It didn’t take long for her to feel the familiar tingling sensation brewing in her lower belly again. As he kept pushing the small ridged flesh, she shivered once more, feeling a sense of sheer relief flooding her body. 

Leon smiled as he felt Ada shiver, then kissed her softly on the lips. She responded exactly as he hoped she would, and he was loving the attention she was showing his manhood.

“You are certainly giving me the full treatment, aren’t you?” She said after a moment of catching her breath.

“Of course I am,” Leon said to his wife as he pulled his fingers out. “You deserve it.” He licked the moisture off of his two digits, then took hold of his cock and positioned himself at Ada’s entrance.

“It’s time for the main course.” He pushed himself inside his wife, carefully but firmly. Leon let out a low groan of pleasure. How he had missed being joined with his life mate, feeling her hot, wet walls contract around his length. Leon sighed and nuzzled her neck, loving the feeling he had been aching for so long.

Ada moaned as Leon slid into her effortlessly. She was so wet and aroused that all the sensations were heightened. The raven-haired woman threw one leg over the blonde’s hip as they fornicated. It had been too long since they were joined like this so intimately. 

She touched foreheads against her husband’s and caressed the muscles on his arms and back. Her hips rocked against him as his manhood glided in and out. 

Leon sighed happily as he and Ada made love. He kissed Ada’s lips and gradually sped up the pace, moving faster and a little rougher with every thrust. Their bed began to shake just a bit.

Along the way, Ada had wrapped her other leg around his ass, creating a slightly tighter sensation. He further increased his speed, and his body began to sweat, his lungs began to pant as he pushed himself.

Ada was loving every moment of their lovemaking and she reflexively squeezed him, knowing how much her husband enjoyed that feeling of being milked. Her legs remained wound around his butt to keep him close, not wanting him to pull out too far. 

The sounds of their ragged breathing were the only noise in the room as she continued to undulate her pelvis in sync with him in their hot mating dance. Occasionally she peppered little kisses on his neck and shoulder as encouragement. When Leon hit a sweet spot within her though, Ada struggled to whisper his name. The sweet passion and pleasure that filled her senses was almost blinding.

“Ah, Ada…” Leon rasped his wife’s name. His heart was pounding, and he reached the point where he could no longer stifle his moans of ecstasy. Each thrust elicited a wave of excitement from deep within him and pushed him closer to the edge.

The blonde began to sink in deeper, his body acting on instinct, yearning to release the pent-up love and fill Ada with it. Leon grunted, burying his face against her neck as he came closer and closer to the brink.

Ada’s head rolled back from the sheer delight of each well-placed thrust, her murmurs of pleasure mixed with Leon’s groans, creating a little harmony of lovemaking. Ada could feel him reaching his peak and she too, would also join him in a few moments. But, she wanted to delay the grand finale for just a bit. After all, it had been too long since they were acquainted like this.

She gently pushed against her husband’s shoulder, “S-slow down, handsome. I want this to last a little longer.” 

Her hazel eyes gazed up at his blue ones as she pleaded with him silently before leaning up to press a soft kiss on his lips. 

Leon gazed back at Ada, nodding and murmuring in acknowledgment before returning the kiss she gave him. He slowed down, making unhurried, more deliberate pushes as he tried his best to hold out a while longer. His body was beginning to shake and shudder, his breath ragged from being so close, but he would do it for his wife.

“I love you,” Leon whispered as he began kissing Ada’s lips, then cheeks, then ear, distracting himself a bit and hoping the extra little touches of intimacy would help Ada have an even richer climax.

Ada smiled back, “I love you too.” She relished the leisurely movements of the blonde’s hips against hers and loved the feeling of Leon’s rigid length slowly pulling out and plunging into her repeatedly. Plus, all of his small affectionate gestures really made her enjoy their time together. 

She could see that it took him an immense effort to control his lust and she would reward him later but for now, the raven-haired woman just wanted to copulate with him for a little while longer.

Ada reached up to lace her fingers with his and they engaged in another sensual kiss as they moved in tandem with each other.

Leon began to calm down as they took things slow. His breathing became more even as they kissed, and his body ceased to shudder so much. Leon still thrust into Ada on instinct, but no longer so desperately. He could enjoy the ride as well.

Still, Leon was very close to his peak, and every move was still one more inch closer. He let out long, low howls as waves of pleasure ran repeatedly down his spine and through his muscles.

Ada squeezed Leon tightly with her thighs as he went through the motions of gliding in and out of her. Their lovemaking was tender and sweet, unlike the usual times when they went in rough and passionate. 

Both didn’t know how long they rutted against each other but their passion quickly swelled once more and Ada became more needy. A fire ignited in the depths of her abdomen and Leon was gradually fanning the flames. 

“Harder,” she said hoarsely, being so close to her peak, giving her husband the reins to go wild.

Leon did as his wife asked, and began to ram harder. His body was running hot, and his heart was pumping again as he reached the boiling point.

“Ada, I can’t hold out…” Leon grit his teeth and grunted as he slammed his body against Ada’s. He wrapped his arms tightly around her head and shoulders, hugging her close as he finally erupted, drenching Ada’s womanhood with his white-hot essence.

He took a long shaky breath as he pulled out, then pushed back into Ada as another burst of semen shot out from his manhood. He buried his face against Ada’s neck as he repeated this, until he calmed down and let himself relax, feeling a great wave of relief wash over him.

Leon’s pace brought Ada to the edge quickly and she passionately cried out his name when her walls finally clenched and trembled around him. 

Hips continued to move fervently against each other as they rode out their mind-blowing orgasms. They spent the next moments of post-coital bliss by cuddling on the bed and trading little kisses.

“That was spectacular,” Ada said as she lazily trailed a finger along Leon’s skin. Every fornication with him always left her feeling whole and fulfilled.

Leon breathed hard and heavily as his climax finally came to an end. He could only respond to Ada with a nod and a murmur, his mind having gone numb from the sheer pleasure.

The blonde let out a long sigh of satisfaction as his senses gradually returned to him. “That was… wow.” He said as he stroked Ada’s hair and then massaged her soft breast. “It’s always good, but that one was intense. That’s what happens when we don't do it for over a week.” Leon carefully sat up and pulled his wife with him, giving her one more loving kiss.

“Thank you, Ada. You’re amazing.”

The couple basked in the afterglow of their lovemaking and cuddled up, enjoying each other’s presence. Ada cupped Leon’s cheek and returned the kiss. 

Her fingers gently stroked the blonde’s face as he thanked her, “You’re welcome, handsome. I can’t take all the credit though, you had a part to play as well.”

She then winked at her husband, “And I’m feeling a little sweaty after all that.”

Leon smiled and nuzzled against Ada’s cheek. “We should get a shower then,” He said to her. “Or else we’re both going to stink. And after that, maybe we’ll have a round two…” Leon whispered the last part and nipped at Ada’s ear. He stood and picked Ada up with him to carry her to the shower, where they could wash up.

[ask-a-w]

Absent Mind Chapter 9: Before The Storm

AO3

FF.net

Previous chapter: Chapter 8 - Home Sweet Home

Next chapter: Chapter 10 - Like Old Times

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Over the course of the night, their two pets roamed between both rooms, wondering why their owners were not sharing the same bed. Cobalt chose to settle down next to Ada while Ebony curled up beside Leon. It was as if the cats knew something was wrong and this was the only way to comfort their humans.

Leon spent the night dreaming, and in his dreams, his memories began to come back to him. There was their wedding day, the honeymoon, and their whole first year of marriage. The visions all came swirling back into his mind, and in his subconscious, Leon wondered how he could ever forget this.

The blonde stirred, and felt a warmth next to his head. He expected to find Ada beside him, but instead found Ebony, nestled happily. “Good kitty,” Leon petted the black cat as he carefully sat up. Ebony purred and chirped back at him. It was now that Leon realised how much he remembered again, and he took a moment to process. He could remember their first whole year of marriage and the time leading up to it, but nothing after. His amnesia had not fully worn off yet.

Still, Leon decided that this was a good sign. He got out of bed and headed for the kitchen. It seemed that Ada was not yet awake, and so he decided he could surprise her with breakfast. Wasting no time, Leon got out the eggs and bacon and started cooking. Somehow, he had a cartoon image in his mind where Ada was floating down the stairs with her eyes closed as her nose led her forward to the delicious smell. 

Meanwhile, Ada’s dreams were fraught with mystery, making no sense at all. One moment she was running, and the next she was having a meal. Scenes of different, disjointed events filled her mind.

She woke up confused and a meow from her side caught her attention. Cobalt then licked her hand and she reached down instinctively to give the ginger feline a scratch behind the ears. He purred approvingly. 

The scent of bacon wafted through the house and Ada was pleasantly surprised. Leon might have amnesia but he definitely knew how to cook since his days of being single. 

Cobalt sniffed the air and hopped off the bed, eager to find the source of the delicious smell. Ada could only shake her head at her pet’s antics. 

Pulling a robe over her sleepwear, she freshened up in the bathroom before heading to the kitchen. The felines were lingering outside the gate. Ada threw a toy towards the cat room to distract them and they fell for it, leaving her path into the kitchen unobstructed. 

Leon was in front of the stove, frying up bacon and eggs. He had a look of concentration on his face and she liked seeing him like this. 

“Good morning,” she said as she prepared to set the table. “Are those for the both of us?”

Leon turned to see Ada, and smiled warmly at her. “Morning, beautiful.” He said as he slid the first batch of eggs onto a plate next to him. He turned the heat down and walked over to his wife, giving her a hug. 

Ada’s heart nearly stopped when Leon addressed her as ‘beautiful.’ It was his pet name for her ever since they got married. A compliment to ‘handsome.’ Could she dare hope that all his memories had returned? She stood still as he sauntered up and enveloped her in an embrace. 

“Ada, I can remember our wedding,” The blonde spoke excitedly. “And our whole first year of marriage together.” Leon leaned in for a kiss, aiming for her lips. The bacon sizzled on the skillet, slowly cooking while Leon attempted to show his wife some much-needed affection.

Her beloved Leon broke the good news to her even though his memories were partially restored. “That’s… wonderful,” she said and returned the hug.

The blonde leaned in closer and his scent was intoxicating. Then she remembered how he left her abruptly before he acquired amnesia. No, she couldn’t indulge in this until they could talk it out.

She turned her head to the side and Leon’s lips grazed her cheek. The ex-spy raised a hand to her mouth soon after and she coughed. 

“Sorry, handsome. I might be a little under the weather,” she lied easily before peering over his shoulder.

“Should you leave your cooking unattended, dear?” Ada teased him.

“Oh,” Leon replied disappointed. He was looking forward to being more intimate with Ada now that he remembered all the good times they had in their first year. The blond figured that it was fine for now, and went back to the stove.

“I thought about sausages too, but it doesn’t look like we had any,” Leon said and flipped the eggs and bacon. There was a ding and some toast popped out of the toaster next to him. “And I’m making toast too. How about we have some orange juice to make this a nicer breakfast?”

“I’ll be sure to get some sausages during our next grocery run,” Ada said and pulled out two glasses from the cupboard. She took out the carton from the fridge and poured till both cups were almost full to the brim.

“Did you sleep well?”

“I slept alright,” Leon replied. He slid the rest of the eggs and bacon onto the plate and brought it along with the plate of toast to the table. The agent got the butter and jam from the fridge, and breakfast was finally ready to be served, “How about you? How did you sleep?” Leon asked as he began to butter his toast. He hoped that Ada would be okay and would not get sick from a bad night’s sleep. Leon just wanted things back to normal, or what he thought was normal.

“Mm, a little disruptive, I’m afraid,” Ada replied as she took a slice of toast and started to spread some jam on it. She knew her husband would be worried sick about her and she added, “It’s nothing to be concerned about, handsome. I’ll be fine.”

“Alright, if you say so,” Leon replied. He did not want to press the issue and focused on breakfast instead. 

Ada ate her food quietly as the cats mewed for attention outside the gate. “Silly rascals,” she shook her head and buttered her remaining slice of toast before piling it with bacon and eggs.

She folded the bread in half and took a bite, relishing how rich and savoury the combination was.

The blonde watched as Ada improvised a sandwich, and decided to copy her. He had to admit, it did taste even better all combined together.

“Is making breakfast into a sandwich what we usually do?” Leon asked Ada between bites. “I don’t remember ever doing it, now that I think of it.”

“Not really, it’s something I improvised on the spot,” Ada said between bites and wiped her fingers with a napkin before washing down the sandwich with OJ.

“How much do you remember? If it’s the first year, I guess you won’t know how we got Ebony.” 

Leon took a bite of the makeshift breakfast sandwich and pondered her question, “Mmm, I think I remember the whole first year, but nothing after. I can’t remember how we got Ebony. I wish I did, she was curled up beside me when I woke up.”

“What can you remember, exactly? How you proposed, got married, where we had our honeymoon? And how we got Cobalt?” Ada asked, encouraging him to describe the details to ensure that his memories were accurate. “Do you want to do anything else today? Stay at home or go out to get some fresh air?”

The cats meowed again and Ada relented, going up to unlatch the gate. The feline duo sprinted to the dining table and rubbed their legs affectionately.

“The bruising on my face will scare off people, I think I should stay home and recuperate some more…” Leon answered the last question first before he recounted his memories. 

“I remember we consummated our relationship around Thanksgiving, then we got Cobalt a while after you moved in. You accepted a biowarfare consultant position in the BSAA a few months later,” He began, thinking over and going through what he knew. “I proposed to you in May and we got married in Vegas in June. You met my parents in the fall, and then we had a Christmas honeymoon in the Swiss Alps… does that sound right? 

Leon believed that was all of the major events of their first year. He hoped he did not forget anything. The blond reached down to pet Cobalt as the orange cat rubbed his leg and purred.

Ada listened carefully and she nodded at each point that Leon listed correctly. Ebony was still begging for food but Ada only rewarded the cat with more scratches on the head, hoping that it would calm the young feline.

“I suppose we can call for grocery and food deliveries today while you rest.”

Leon liked the sound of that. 

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The Kennedy couple spent the rest of the morning doing light chores as Leon got further acquainted with the house. In the back of his mind, he thought that once he got some of his memories, Ada would be more intimate with him. 

Instead, it felt like his wife was holding herself back. She was still showing concern for him but also avoiding being in close proximity with him at any opportunity. He tried to help her out with chores and she simply redirected him to other parts of their home. The best thing about it was Cobalt and Ebony were never too far behind, they were following him wherever he went. At least he wasn’t so lonely. 

The blonde was in the midst of putting the laundry away when he heard the doorbell ring. 

“I’ll get it,” Ada called out and went to the door to receive their deliveries for lunch and groceries. Leon came down to help her with the food and he laid out the cutlery while she placed their groceries away. If she gave any indication that she was uncomfortable with his presence, she did not show it. Instead, she seemed quite appreciative of his help. 

His heart clenched at her presence. Why was marriage so complicated? 

“What would you like to drink?” Leon asked his wife as he unbagged their delivery, pleasantly surprised to see burgers within. 

“Just water would be good.”

Leon nodded and poured glasses of water for both himself and Ada. He transferred their food onto plates when his wife joined him at the table with small bowls of fruit. 

He dug into his burger, slightly greasy, covered in ketchup and melted cheese, with plenty of onions, tomato and lettuce to give it a nice crunchy bite to it. It was not gourmet, but Leon could not help but have a fondness for fast food.

Cobalt and Ebony hung around the couple and curled up at the bottom of the dining table. Ada allowed their cats to stay as they were not begging for food at the moment. They ate in silence for a few moments, before Leon took a sip of water and cleared his throat.

“So, what do you want to do later?” He asked her, trying to make some sort of small talk. “Do some training? I guess I should recover a little more before I do any sparring.”

“I don’t think you want to open your wounds with something strenuous. Light walks on the treadmill would be best,” Ada said after she was halfway through her small but filling cheeseburger.

She took a sip of water before biting into her apple with a loud crunch, chewing the slice of fruit carefully with every bite. Things were definitely still awkward between them. They usually fed each other little bits of food on their plates and they were still being overly cordial.

“You’re right. I’ll stick to the treadmill.” Leon replied to Ada. He remembered how they liked to feed each other, that was something they would normally be doing at home, and Leon wondered why they were not. He suspected it had something to do with what he did not remember.

“Okay, once we’re done I’ll get some exercise in and then relax a little more,” Leon said after a few more bites. “We can work out together, right? I think I need to do some stretching. How about some yoga?”

“Don’t work out too soon after you’re done eating, handsome. You wouldn’t want appendicitis,” her tone was a little playful. “But some light exercise like yoga sounds doable,” she replied and they ate the rest of their lunch. The couple cleaned up once more and rested a bit with the cats in the living room.

Now that the couple were out of the kitchen, both Ebony and Cobalt were especially attentive, or rather, clingy towards Leon. As if demanding the blonde to make up for the lost time that he had been away. 

“They really do miss you,” Ada said off-handedly as she threw a little ball of foil toward the felines.

“Mmm hmm,” Leon murmured as he scratched Cobalt behind the ears, making the orange cat purr happily. Cobalt leaped away at the foil when Ada threw it, batting at it along with Ebony. 

There she went again, being close and distant at the same time. Leon could not wait any longer and decided to take matters into his own hands. 

“Ada, just how long was I gone?” Leon asked his wife. “Was it just a few days? I wish I could remember, but it feels like I must have been gone a lot longer.” He reached out to touch Ada’s hand, hoping to have some connection with her. “I know amnesia makes things awkward, but you’re acting strange. What else is going on?”

Ada froze for just a second and looked away before returning her gaze to Leon. So, her government agent husband was still observant. She sighed, “You were away for a week.”

There was more to that and Ada was reluctant to spill the beans. “It won’t be fair to be angry at you for something you can’t remember,” she said softly as she closed her fist.

“One week?” Leon asked, shocked that he was away for so long. “Why was I gone for a week?” The agent stared intently at Ada, then looked away when she mentioned being angry.

“What do you mean be angry? What exactly happened? Did I do something?” Leon desperately wanted to know, and guilt began to crush his heart at the thought that he might have hurt Ada in some way.

Her face hardened at his first question, “Your job tends to take you away every now and then.” 

Even though he had been relegated to a desk-bound role months ago, Leon was still the best agent the DSO had and there were occasions when he was called in at the last minute to help. 

Both of them might have spent most of their lives on the field but their dynamic had changed, they were married now. Ada knew Leon could take care of himself but there was always this nagging feeling at the back of her mind. And the most recent mission her husband was sent on came close to making her lose it.

“Do you remember the functions of your watch?” She asked, attempting to guide him to the answer.

Leon knew that his superiors did indeed send him on assignments occasionally. It was dirty work sometimes, but it needed to be done. The agent looked down at the watch, one half of the special gifts they had given each other.

“I know that there’s a GPS tracker inside,” Leon replied to her. “In case we get separated, we can find each other.” He began wondering if that function had come in handy yet, if there was some incident where he had to use the watch to find Ada. It was then that Leon realized where he had found the watch; at home.

“I didn’t have the watch with me when I left, did I?” Leon asked as it dawned on him why Ada might be upset. “I usually just leave my ring, so I won’t lose it, but I left my watch this time too. You didn’t know where I was…”

Ada watched her husband work out her cryptic question and she could see the gears clicking in his head. The raven haired woman nodded when he acquired the answer.

“Yes, and Hunnigan wasn’t aware you were deployed either. She tried finding out where you went but kept hitting dead ends,” she said as she gently removed her hand from his grasp. Everything was all very raw and painful right now. 

She never expected that she would feel such an emotion again after three decades since her life turned upside down. The ex-spy thought she was confident, stable, and strong.

Leon was quiet for a moment. He did not know what he should say. Ada was withdrawing from him, over something he did not remember doing. If he went for a mission without telling her and left his watch, it had to have been for a good reason. He would not do something like this to Ada unless they were in extreme circumstances. Leon was not going to try to use that excuse though.

“I’m…sorry, Ada.” Was all Leon could say to his wife. The blonde sighed as he quietly stood up and turned to head for the bedroom. Ada did not seem to want to spend time with him right now. He wondered if she would forgive him, and hoped when he did regain his memory that his reason for leaving justified what he had done.

Ada could only nod numbly as he left her alone with the cats in the living room. Feeling the pin pricks of tears threatening to well up in her eyes, she closed them with a sigh. She felt a nudge under her hand and the raven haired woman absentmindedly stroked her pet’s fur. 

Those who said cats were aloof creatures were wrong. Cobalt and Ebony were the most gentle and sensitive felines that she ever had.

After a few moments, Ada had calmed down and she opened her eyes to find Cobalt curled up under her touch, fast asleep. She gave the ginger cat one last scratch on the head before heading up to the guest room to change into her workout clothes.

Exercising always took her mind off present worries and she headed to the backyard gym to train.

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Leon entered the master bedroom and closed the door with a sigh. With nothing else to do, he plugged his cellphone into an outlet and felt some relief when he saw the charging icon on the screen. 

After his device was done booting up, the blonde sank onto the bed, and began to read the unread messages in his inbox. To his surprise, the majority were from Hunnigan where she was worried over his disappearance and chiding him for leaving Ada in the dark. 

His wife only sent him one text which merely said: Please be safe…

Leon sent a quick reply to his handler. 

[txt] Thank you for having my back and I’m sorry for worrying you. 

He heard a door downstairs open and close, and went to the window to see Ada going out to the gym in workout attire. He contemplated exercising too before his phone buzzed in his palm. 

[txt] You’re welcome. And shouldn’t you be resting? You better not be reading work emails. 

Leon let out a chuckle. 

[txt] Just wanted to see if my phone was still functional. 

There was another quick reply from Ingrid. 

[txt] Are you available for a call?

The blonde typed his response with a ‘Sure’. 

His phone rang soon after and Hunnigan spoke, “How are you feeling so far, Leon?”

Raking his fingers through his hair, he exhaled a sigh. “I remembered the first one and half years of my life after Lanshiang with Ada but nothing more.”

“That sounds like progress,” Ingrid said encouragingly. 

“Not quick enough for my liking though. I just want to know what happened.”

There was a rustling over the phone, “I came across an article about a facility up north that exploded recently. I have an inkling you had a hand in it.”

“So that’s what the director meant by the mission being successful.” Leon whispered to himself. Sabotaging wasn’t his speciality though… 

There was surprise in Ingrid’s voice, “You spoke with Director Martin?” 

“Yeah, he told me to lay low and focus on recuperating.”

“I still don’t approve of him going behind my back and sending you away.”

The blonde could imagine Hunnigan’s brows furrowing as she made that statement. 

“It’s not like I could say no to the director.”

“Not with this policy that I’m drafting,” her voice was firm and steadfast. ”It’ll protect all agents from being deployed onto the field if they don’t have field ready status. I’ll send it to you once it’s ready.”

“I appreciate that.”

“You’re welcome. Now put down your phone and get more rest,” her tone changed into something that reminded him of his own mother when she wanted him to acquiesce. “I hope the next time I see you, you’re back to one hundred percent.”

Leon smiled heartily, “I wouldn’t want it any other way. Bye, Hunnigan.”

Glancing out the window where their backyard gym was, he felt motivated to exercise too. He changed out of his clothes into looser, more casual wear. The blonde was not sure if he should bother his wife by joining her. It seemed she needed some alone time, so Leon decided he might do some easy callisthenics inside instead. He needed to be careful not to hurt himself after all.

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Ada started with the treadmill, warming up her body before heading to the punching bags where she unleashed all the pent up frustrations within her. The gym echoed with her screams and grunts every now and then. Thank goodness it was sound proof. 

Finally, she unwound on the balance beam and gymnastic rings near the back of the room. It was the first sport she was introduced to and excelled in as a child. Performing the routines always brought her to a zone where she was calm and focused.

After more than an hour, Ada exited the gym and went back into the house, soaked with perspiration. Ebony ran up to her with a meow, rubbing her legs. The black cat seemed confused when its fur was wet and ruffled with its owner’s sweat.

Ada chuckled and gave the feline a pet on the head. “Go ahead and clean yourself, silly one,” she said and left for a long shower in the guest bathroom.

----------

Leon warmed himself up with some light stretching, flexing, bending, and extending his limbs until they felt supple and loose. He was still a tad stiff from laying in the hospital bed for so long. Once the stretching was done, he did a routine of pushups, situps, and some jumping jacks.

Leon wanted to use the equipment outside, but he really did not want to bump into Ada and make things awkward. He was feeling better than he had been, and thought to himself he probably was not at as much risk of hurting himself as he thought. The government agent had learned he could live through a lot worse things. Still, he could not deny he could not act like a young man forever. Eventually his body would quit on him. 

These thoughts were interrupted when Cobalt slipped out from under the bed and meowed at Leon to open the bedroom door. The orange cat had slipped inside the bedroom without Leon noticing.

“Alright, alright, hang on,” Leon said to Cobalt as he opened the bedroom door for him. “Sorry for shutting you in, Cobalt.”

----------

Ada took her own sweet time getting cleaned up, lathering her skin to rinse off the dirt and grime that accumulated during her exercise session. She turned up the heat, feeling her muscles relax after being tensed up for an hour. Now the ex-spy felt refreshed and rejuvenated. 

She donned a clean pair of clothes and with her hair still wet, she stepped out of the guest bathroom to find Cobalt running out of the master bedroom.

Leon was standing at the doorway showing the orange cat out. 

“Hi,” she said. It would not be fair to stay mad at her husband for something he couldn’t remember.

“Hi,” Leon responded when he saw Ada in the hallway. It did feel awkward, just as he feared. He glanced away for a split second before thinking of what to say to her.

“So, what do you want for dinner?” Leon asked Ada. “Maybe pork chops? I saw some in the fridge…” He hoped that things would not be weird between them forever. The blonde was not so sweaty that he felt he needed to wash up. Then again, he did not want Ada to be turned off.

“Pork chops sound good,” Ada replied. It had been a while since she had them and he could cook a mean one that would make her crave for more. 

“I think I’m done working out,” Leon said after a moment. “Is there anything you’d like to do?”

They just stood there, staring at each other. Usually they would have a romp in the bedroom or participate in something spontaneous like biking or jogging around the neighbourhood.

“I could help you cut the ingredients if you like,” Ada said after a while. 

“I’d like that.” Leon replied. 

Things were very awkward indeed. The raven haired woman decided to swallow her pride. 

“Leon, you should know that I’m not going to stay upset at you for something you can’t remember. Let’s just ignore it for a moment.”

Leon looked back at Ada when she said she would not stay upset at him, feeling a surge of hope swell within him. He nodded and murmured, “I know. I’ll try to.”

He did not know what else to say, but knew he needed to do something. Quietly, the blonde walked towards Ada, opened his arms, and pulled her into a hug. He needed to show her he loved her, and missed her affections.

Ada responded by wrapping her arms around him too, squeezing her husband tight. She missed Leon’s warmth, his scent, his everything. If only the blonde’s memories were whole… 

Leon smiled and sighed as Ada returned the gesture. It felt familiar and comforting, knowing she still loved him.

They stood there in an embrace for a moment before feeling something furry rubbing their legs. Ada pulled away and looked down to see that Ebony was done grooming herself as her coat looked neat again. 

“Hello, Ebony.” She cooed and bent down to give the feline a head and chin rub. The cat flopped down on its back and purred loudly. ”We should prepare dinner soon. What do you need?”

“I’ll need the pork chops, of course,” Leon answered. “I’ll also require some potatoes and green beans, and applesauce too. We can put some cinnamon on the applesauce. Salad is also an option.” The blonde’s mood was lightening quickly as he talked about food.

Both of them walked downstairs to the kitchen to prepare their meal. 

----------

Leon had successfully made a spread, with Ada’s help. Other than mistakenly making a marinade instead of a sauce, he made the best of it and spent some more time watching TV with his wife as they let the meat marinate longer. 

Grilling came back naturally to him and he confidently seared the meat to perfection. It felt like any ordinary weekday evening with his spouse. 

The couple sat across each other and dug in. 

He quietly ate his dinner, enjoying his time with Ada, though he could not stave off the thoughts that were slowly rising to the surface of his mind. Leon sipped some iced tea and cleared his throat.

“Ada, I was thinking,” The blonde began, his tone more serious. “What will we do if I can’t remember anymore than this?” Leon made eye contact with his wife. “Do we just try to make the most of it?”

His gaze burned into her soul and she was unable to look away. Ada closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh. “If that happens, I will tell you everything that you can’t remember…”

The raven haired woman reached across the table to grasp his hand. “And we will just have to continue moving forward.” 

“Mmm hmm,” Leon replied with a simple nod. He clasped his hand with hers for a moment, to comfort both her and himself. “Thank you Ada. Whatever happens, I want to stay with you.”

Ada smiled, “Well, I do have to honour our marriage vows after all. I assume you’ll do the same.” 

“’Course I will.” Leon smirked at Ada and finally let go of Ada’s hand to resume eating his dinner. He did not want to bring the mood down too often with his angst, and hoped that they had nowhere to go but up from here.

There was still the issue of sleeping arrangements and he kept fidgeting by tapping his fork on the edge of his plate. 

“Penny for your thoughts, handsome.”

The blonde started a bit and coughed, “Could we share the bed tonight?”

Ada furrowed her brows and was about to reply before Leon intervened, “I know you said you don’t want to take advantage of the situation but we don’t have to take things further than just cuddling.”

Knowing her husband, Ada knew he would stick to his word. “Alright. Since you asked so nicely,” she conceded with a smile. 

“Let me bunk in with you, it’s the least I could do. You don’t have to move your things for tonight.”

“Thank you, dear.”

Ada’s use of a pet name made Leon’s heart soar. 

----------

His chest was thudding just like on that beautiful Thanksgiving night when they sealed their relationship. He continued to sniff himself after washing up and brushing his teeth, ensuring he smelled good to his wife. 

Leon donned a pair of loose fitting pants and a thin tank top before padding over to the guest room. He knocked and the door opened soon after to reveal Ada clad in modest silk pajamas. She looked absolutely gorgeous to him and it took all his willpower to not dip her into a searing kiss. 

Leaving the door cracked for their cats, they both slipped under the covers. Leon turned towards his wife and could make out her silhouette in the dark. Ada was on her side and judging by how close her breathing sounded, she was facing him. 

The floral scent of her moisturiser smelled a little like lavender, acting like a soothing balm to ease the frantic thumping in his chest. 

“Can I hold your hand?” He asked. 

There was a rustle over the covers and her fingers brushed lightly against his, lacing them loosely in his grasp. 

“I hope I can get all my memories back by tomorrow…” The blonde said idly as he stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. 

“Or we could take it one day at a time.”

He chuckled dryly, “That too.”

“Get some sleep, handsome,” her voice sounded playful. “You won’t be able to recover if you stay awake.”

“You’re right. G’night, Ada.” He brought her hand up to his lips, just like yesterday. 

If there was any surprise on her face, he couldn’t tell but she responded by squeezing his hand before rolling onto her back. 

“Good night, Leon.”

He laid there in the dark, listening to Ada’s rhythmic inhales and exhales, still wondering why he would jeopardise his marriage by going on a mission without Hunnigan’s knowledge. There were still some missing puzzles that were evading him. 

The more his mind worked, the more sleep proved to be elusive. The blonde shifted onto his stomach to get more comfortable. He was also distracted from her presence too, the warmth of her body was magnetic, and he felt himself press against the contours of her body. 

So close and yet so far. 

No wonder Ada made the decision to sleep in separate rooms. Not being able to be intimate was pure torture. 

“Can’t fall asleep?” Her voice was a whisper. 

“I thought you had already dozed off.”

“I can breathe pretty slowly at rest,” she said and stroked his arm. 

They felt something thump on the bed followed by another. A furry face brushed against Ada’s cheek while a little cat tongue licked Leon’s tresses. 

“Hey, kitties…” Leon said in a sing-song manner as he got one to purr while he stroked its back and hindquarters. He couldn’t tell which cat it was in the dark but judging by its bigger form, it was probably Cobalt. 

“They heard us talking and decided to join in.”

Ada scritched Ebony’s chin and the little cat clambered into her chest, making light biscuits on the blanket. 

The licking on Leon’s hair soon turned to gnawing and it became borderline painful. “No, Cobalt,” he gently chided the ginger cat and carefully pried him off the pillow, nestling the feline between himself and his wife. 

Cobalt shifted a little before settling itself partially on Leon’s chest while its rump was pressed up against Ada’s arm. 

Both cats began to purr in sync and to his surprise, the melody was lulling him to sleep. His breathing gradually grew more shallow and soon, he managed to doze off. There was a smile on Ada’s face as she listened to his inhales and exhales, glad that he was getting his rest. She finally willed herself to sleep as well.  

----------

Once more, Leon’s dreams were a swirl of familiar faces and images. To him it felt as though someone had unlocked a vault deep within his mind, where his most treasured memories were kept. He could see Ada, and he could see Ebony on the day they got her. 

It was all so much for him to process, but when the morning came, Leon knew everything. He opened his eyes slowly, adjusting to the light coming through the windows.

The blonde felt a weight on his legs and glanced at the foot of the bed, spotting Cobalt curled up and snoozing peacefully. Leon then looked to the side and saw sweet little Ebony sleeping on Ada’s pillow but his wife wasn’t there. 

Before he could process the sight in front of him, he heard the water running in the guest bathroom and surmised that Ada was using it. 

That was a relief. He remembered everything, and he needed to tell Ada right away. Leon quickly but carefully got out of bed and made a bee-line for the bathroom. He softly knocked on the door and called his wife’s name.

“Ada? Ada, I got my memories back!” He said, trying to contain his joy. “I remember it all!” And it was right then that Leon remembered what led to his amnesia in the first place. He suddenly could guess why Ada was acting so strange…

A pit formed in his stomach and he gulped, working up the courage to face the music. 

[ask-a-w]

oops— i’m late YUH CHAPTER UPDATE 😭

Sorry for the late reply! Here's another chapter update! :D

[ask-a-w]

Absent Mind Chapter 8: Home Sweet Home

AO3

FF.net

Previous chapter: Chapter 7 - Rest and Recovery

Next chapter: Chapter 9 - Before The Storm

-----------------

The afternoon finally came when Leon was given the all-clear to leave. His dressings were removed, and he got himself dressed and slid on his leather jacket, the feeling of it comforting and familiar. It was different from the one he had last remembered donning in Tall Oaks, but wearing it felt just as natural to him. 

He was also nervous about meeting Ada again. After last night’s fiasco, he wasn’t sure what was the best way forward. Navigating a marriage was entirely new to him. Whatever it was, the blonde was certain that Ada would not leave him over this. They’ve been through too much for over a decade to jeopardise their happy ending. 

The door slid open to reveal his wife. She was dressed simply today, just a navy blue dress and a cardigan. Seeing her in a different colour was quite refreshing. 

Leon made his way to her and looked into her eyes sincerely, “Ada, I want to apologise for my words last night. They clearly made you unhappy.”

Having had the best night’s sleep she had in a week, Ada was feeling more genial today. “It’s fine,” she beamed at him. “You were right that I needed a rest. I was knocked out the moment my head hit the pillow.”

Exhaling a breath that he did not know he was holding, Leon relaxed and changed the subject. “By the way, when did I get this?” He pointed to the leather jacket draped across his body. “I like it.” 

The jacket was one of the many gifts from her and she was about to reply when there was a knock on the door. Reginald stepped in with a briefcase in hand, “Excuse me, but may I have a word in private with Mr. Kennedy before he leaves?” The older man asked as he set the case on the floor. 

Ada was slightly irked when Leon’s higher-up interrupted them. She pursed her lips ever so slightly and gave the director a curt nod, stepping out of the room to leave both men alone. 

Leon eyed the stranger carefully, there was something familiar about his face… His gut feeling indicated that he was someone important. 

“Agent Kennedy, you may not remember me but I am the director for the mission you were sent on which resulted in your amnesia. I am truly sorry for the outcome. I strongly urge you, for your own safety, that you remain low and recuperate in your home for the time being.”

Director Martin couldn’t give much away, not when his most prized operative had memory loss. Leon could be a liability but hinting that the blonde’s life might be targeted would be enough to keep his head down.

“The system currently lists you as being on indefinite leave. Take it as a well-earned vacation. You will resume your work when you are deemed fit for duty again. Is that clear?” The blonde better not be attempting to access the DSO database during his downtime. He always had an inquisitive mind and would search for answers if given the chance.

“Okay,” Leon replied, feeling just slightly suspicious of the man. “Well, that’s what I was planning to do anyway. Is there any reason why it might be unsafe for me to not keep a low profile?” He asked, hoping to get some idea of what had happened on the mission.

“Honestly, I think it’s better that you don’t remember.” The man answered, causing Leon to scoff and turn away to gather his things. The agent was acting just as the director thought he would. “Now, is that clear?”

“Crystal, sir,” Leon replied as he turned back around, looking the director right back in the eye. “Could you at least tell me if the mission was a success?”

Reginald nodded, “Of course. You always get the job done. Anyway, here are your belongings,” he gestured to the briefcase. There were other pressing matters at hand… The data Leon retrieved was still being analysed and he had heard that Ingrid Hunnigan was in the midst of drafting a policy about field-readiness. 

The older man stepped out and Ada shot him a steely gaze as she waited with one foot planted on the wall behind her. He ignored the animosity rolling off Leon’s wife and continued moving forward. No words were exchanged between them and soon Ada was left alone in the corridor.  

Leon did plan on resting, but he was going to find out what the director was not telling him. He carefully gathered his duffel and briefcase and headed out. “Alright, we’re ready to go,” he said to Ada chirpily but his facial expression looked stormy. Leon was attempting to hide it by being friendly, pretending that nothing was wrong. 

It did not escape Ada’s keen eye. She played along until they reached his Cadillac in the parking lot. “You remember this car, don’t you? You’ve had it before I came along.”

The blonde recognized his car as they stepped out into the lot. He nodded to Ada. “Yes, I do remember my car. I guess you should drive though, since I don’t know the way.”

“Everything alright, handsome?” She asked as they loaded his belongings into the trunk. 

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” Leon said. “He just said I should take time to rest up, and they’ll call me back once I’m fit for duty.”

He got into the passenger’s seat and Ada replied with an “Okay,” deciding not to press the issue any further. 

They began the drive with Leon mostly staring out the window. He recognized the places they drove past at least, though they entered a neighbourhood he had never been in before.

“Is this where we live?” Leon asked as he watched the houses pass by. “It’s… nice.”

Ada chuckled a little bit when her spouse mistook the surrounding neighbourhood to be where they lived. “No, handsome. We reside closer to the capital. It’ll take another hour or so to get home.”

“Oh,” Leon murmured, feeling embarrassed. He looked out the side window some more, and he did feel like the surroundings were growing somewhat familiar, in a strange way. It all looked very normal to his eyes.

“Is there any food you’re hankering for? You’ve not had any for a while,” Ada asked when they passed by the heart of the small town that had a bunch of family restaurants beside the road.

His stomach growled slightly despite having oatmeal earlier. “I could go for a fat, juicy burger. But I should still take it easy with my food intake.”

Ada hummed in thought, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

The majority of the ride was done in silence as Ada allowed Leon to take in all the sights. His thoughts were all over the place. He was heading home with Ada Wong, a woman he had pined for years. If this was a dream, he did not want to wake up from it. 

However, he still felt pain from his bruises and the warmth of the Sun on his face. It was definitely real no matter how many times he pinched himself. 

Soon, they were on the street that brought them home. 

“This road takes us home, Leon. There will be a small apple sapling out front. Courtesy from your parents.”

At the end of the main road, they turned and traveled down another slip road before stopping in the middle. They were outside a modest two-storey house. 

“Here we are,” Ada said as she thumbed the fob that activated the gates, allowing the car to drive into the garage. “I suppose you want to enter through the front door instead of the side. Be careful though, Ebony loves to pounce whenever we return home.”

The blonde finally laid eyes on their house, and the sapling in the yard. He found it to be a gorgeous home, and he was surprised that they lived in a house this large. Leon nodded to Ada and got out of the car, collecting his bags before heading for the front door. He took a moment to examine the surroundings more closely before turning the door knob and opening it.

Compared to his small apartment downtown, the house was different in terms of size and Ada understood that Leon required time to process everything in their dwelling.

Once the door opened, Leon stepped inside and was met with the foyer. He set his belongings on the floor and continued to admire the internal decor. In only a few seconds, the blonde heard the pitter patter of little cat feet, and soon saw a small black cat scurry around a corner. Just as Ada said, Ebony bounded towards Leon and pounced on his foot, playfully biting at his pant leg and rolling on the floor.

“Uh, hello, Ebony,” Leon said as he looked down, not moving as he watched the cat play. He was not sure if he should pet her, though he did kneel.

Not wanting to miss out on the action, Cobalt sprinted into the foyer soon after, affectionately walking in circles around Leon’s leg and meowing loudly with need. 

Ada could only smile at their antics. "Go ahead and pet them, Leon. They appear to miss you quite a bit.“

Deciding he should not keep the cats waiting, Leon reached and petted both of them. Cobalt and Ebony nuzzled and purred against his hand as he stroked their fur, happy for the attention. The cats enjoyed the pets for a moment before they scampered off.

The blonde man stood back up and smiled softly at the little creatures. “They really like me,” He said. 

“Why wouldn’t they? You showered them with affection on a daily basis,” Ada replied as she listened to the cats run off to their designated kitty room. 

Leon looked around a bit more, seeing where the foyer led. He glanced in at the living room and then saw the stairs. Suddenly, an image popped into Leon’s mind.

“I remember something,” he said, trying hard to recall the memory. “I remember moving a… desk? It was a real hassle too…”

Looks like Leon’s amnesia would be temporary after all. Ada walked towards her husband and nodded, “Yes, we moved it into your office. I’ll show you where it is.”

Taking his hand, she directed him to a door beside the living room and twisted the knob. A desk, office chair, and a myriad of bookshelves greeted them. The walls were painted a soothing blue, his favourite colour.

Leon studied and examined the office, from the ceiling to the floor, soaking in every detail. He read the titles of the books on the shelves and then went to sit down in the chair by the desk. It felt quite comfortable, and the agent crossed his legs as he thought.

“Yeah, this is my office alright,” He said after a while. “I remember where I put everything. Like… the stapler.” Leon pulled open a drawer and sure enough, a stapler was in there. “I’m glad I can remember something, I just wish it was better than office supplies.”

“You have to start somewhere. At least there’s an improvement,” Ada replied as he explored his little sanctuary. A pity he wasn’t able to recall the fun times they had in his office. 

“Are you hungry? Do you want to explore the house on your own while I make something for us? Or would you like to call for delivery to satisfy your burger craving?”

There was nothing else Leon could do except to rest and try to remember his past. She couldn’t keep hovering over him like a helicopter spouse. 

“Yeah, I am actually,” Leon replied to Ada. “…and, I think I would rather you make something. Maybe it will help me remember more….”

The blonde then went to explore the rest of the house, opening the doors to various rooms and closets and the cat room. He also went outside to see the backyard and their personal gym. It was an unusually strange feeling; he could not remember anything about the house, and yet everything about it felt perfectly natural to him.

Leon picked up his bags in the foyer and went into what he assumed was the master bedroom. He was about to unpack when he spotted a golden ring on the bedside table. He slipped it on his finger, and it fit him perfectly. Leon realised this must be his wedding ring. He thumbed it a moment, thinking of the wedding photos.

While Leon was left to his own devices, Ada already planned a dish that would surprise him. She began to bring out the various sauces and seasonings, as well as the meat that she thawed out earlier. 

A pot of water was brought to a simmer and she added in the ingredients, stirring it occasionally before bringing the heat up. 

The aroma of meat and tomato wafted through the kitchen soon after and the cats couldn’t help but be curious. Luckily a gate was affixed at the doorway to prevent pet mishaps in the kitchen. The felines mewed with curiosity. Something smelled good and they couldn’t even see what it was. 

Ada shook her head at their silly antics and prepared for the second phase of cooking.

One last thing Leon noticed on his bedside table before he left the bedroom was a wristwatch. He examined it for a moment before fastening it to his wrist, also finding it comfortable. It was then that he smelled the food cooking in the kitchen, and went downstairs to see what Ada was preparing. Unpacking could wait. 

Leon saw the two cats pacing in front of the gate, and he gently shooed them away as he opened it and entered the kitchen.

“What are you making, spaghetti?” The agent asked. Leon began thinking that he might have remembered the little gate to the kitchen to keep Ebony and Cobalt out, as he had not given it a second glance or much attention when he saw it.

“With bolognese sauce,” Ada replied as she grabbed a bundle of spaghetti and gently lowered them into a pot of boiling salted water. 

“I’ll be done soon. Perhaps you can set the table? You can take your time to re-acquaint yourself with where the utensils are,” she added soon after as the spaghetti softened and began to fall into the water. 

“Hm, my mom makes it with bolognese sauce too,” Leon murmured as he searched for the silverware. He went through a few drawers under the counter before finding the right one, then went through the cupboards to find the plates and cups. It seemed that not everything would instantly come back to him. 

“It is a pretty common meat sauce,” Ada said, not wanting to ruin the surprise. It was indeed his mother’s recipe that she was using and she thought it would help her husband’s condition.

Ada gave Leon a quick glance while he moved around the kitchen and noted the extra accessory attached on his finger. “You’re wearing your ring,” she said with surprise as she was not expecting him to don it so soon.

Leon began setting their plates, cups, and silverware on the table. The blonde looked up when Ada mentioned the ring. “I found it by the bed. I figured I should wear it, since it is mine, right?” He was not entirely sure about wearing the ring so soon, but he wanted to at least get used to it again.

The raven haired woman listened to Leon’s explanation about the ring, “Hm, that does make sense. I hope it’s comfortable.”

When the pasta was cooked al dente, she carefully strained it and proceeded to dump the noodles into the bolognese sauce. She stirred the pot, carefully ensuring that each strand was coated. Ada grated some parmesan cheese and stirred the contents of the pot once more.

Satisfied, she brought the pot to the table and ladled out their dinner onto the plates. “Hold on, there’s one more thing,” Ada took out several slices of cheese and crumbled them on top of the spaghetti. The cheese melted upon contact with the hot food. 

“Mom said that’s how you liked it.” 

“She did?” Leon asked, now even more curious. The spaghetti did look and smell delicious, and he was eager to have some. Leon poured tea into their glasses before sitting down and twirling the noodles around his fork. He made sure to get plenty of meat and sauce caught up before putting it in his mouth.

Leon chewed and savoured the spaghetti for a long moment. It did taste very familiar and nostalgic to his tongue. He finally swallowed and looked to Ada once more.

“This is my mom’s recipe, isn’t it?” The blonde asked his wife. “I guess she gave it to you? It’s really good.”

Ada was pleased that Leon enjoyed her cooking, “Thank you. She gave me a few family recipes of some dishes you like.”

The raven haired woman carefully twirled her pasta onto her spoon and ate it up. Unbeknownst to her, a bit of sauce got onto her pale cheek as she continued eating. 

“What would you like to do later? Should you rest some more to heal your injuries or do you have something else in mind?”  She asked, noting that her husband still had some bruises here and there. Going out might cause a scene. 

“I don’t know. I guess I should rest…” Leon said before slurping up more noodles. It was then that he noticed the sauce on Ada’s cheek. “Hang on a sec, you’ve got something on you.”

Leon took his napkin and reached over to wipe the sauce from Ada’s cheek. He felt her soft skin, and for a moment he was reminded of the times he had looked out for her in the past, when she was injured or unconscious. Leon could never make it up to Ada for all she had done for him, and even now she still looked out for him.

“Oh,” Ada said simply as Leon’s warm hand gently wiped away the sauce on her cheek. How long has it been since he touched her like that? She didn’t realise she was craving for his touch.

“Thank you, Leon,” she murmured as she sipped more tea. She had to control herself and stop herself from jumping on her amnesiac husband.

“Mm, maybe we could watch TV together, if that’s okay…” Her husband replied to her after he was finally done cleaning her cheek. 

“Sure,” she took a sip of tea. “What do you have in mind? Netflix?”

“Netflix sounds good,” Leon concurred and sipped some tea. “Do we watch Netflix a lot? Is there anything we were watching?” He asked, feeling a little awkward again. “We can always just browse and see what’s on…” He focused back on his spaghetti. The situation was still strange to him, but he was trying to make an effort.

They finished their food, which Leon thoroughly enjoyed, sopping up the leftover sauce with some bread and washing it down with the rest of his tea. He helped clean and put away the dishes and walked out to the living room to turn on the TV. Cobalt jumped on the couch beside him and licked Leon’s hand, earning the orange cat a pet and a scratch behind the ears.

“Okay, what do we have here?” Leon asked as he turned Netflix on, and was greeted by the assorted new releases and previously watched entries. It seemed he and Ada had viewed a variety of entries, including comedies, romance, action, and some cartoons and anime as well.

Everything felt almost normal, from sharing the workload to cleaning up the dirty dishes and relaxing on the couch. But the only thing that was missing was intimacy. Ada sat on the sofa beside Leon, not too near but not too far away from him either. Cobalt walked over Leon’s lap to nestle between them and Ada petted the orange cat. In this situation, something light-hearted was recommended.

Not wanting to be left out, Ebony leapt up on the armrest beside Ada and chirped a mew. The black cat was rewarded with head and chin scratches. 

“We can always watch comedy or cartoons. You can choose.”

“How about this one?” The blonde pushed play on a Wes Andersen film and the movie began. They had not seen it yet but Ada had read reviews of this whimsical movie. 

Leon was still very conscious of Ada sitting next to him. He wanted to be intimate with her, he knew that they were married and it would be perfectly fine, but still his unease persisted. Leon decided to pet Cobalt to distract himself, if only just a bit.

Settling deeper into the couch, Ada leaned back and relaxed and watched the movie unfold on screen. Ebony decided to make herself comfy on a human lap instead and Ada found herself being distracted by the black cat periodically. 

The story and characters, while seemingly bizarre at first, turned out to be heartwarming and hilarious. Ada found herself chuckling at some over-the-top scenes. 

“Their costumes are quite eye-catching, don’t you think?”

“Yeah,” Leon nodded in agreement. “I guess they must be authentic.” He found himself smiling and laughing at the film, helping him relax. Cobalt jumped onto the head of the couch and laid down there, taking a little cat nap.

“They won an Academy Award for best costume design too,” Ada replied and watched the heist of the painting play out on screen. 

The blonde found himself glancing at Ada and he noticed Ebony was still on her lap. He reached out to pet the black kitty but wound up touching Ada’s hand when she went to pet her first. Leon hesitated initially, but then took Ada’s hand in his and looked back at the film. He held her hand silently, wondering what Ada would do.

Time seemed to freeze for that split second. Ada was stunned by his action but since he was not pulling away, she readjusted her grasp and laced their fingers together as they continued to watch the movie in silence. 

He might not remember most of their married life together but they were still husband and wife. They could indulge in some displays of affection. 

After a while, with the dark environment being so conducive for sleeping, Ada’s eyes drooped. Her head slowly tilted downwards and she dozed off. 

Leon noticed that Ada had not said anything for a while after he took her hand. That she did not pull away was a good sign. After a while, Leon felt he should say something. He looked to Ada and opened his mouth, but found that she was dozing off.

The blonde quirked a smile, finding it precious that Ada was comfortable enough in his presence to keep falling asleep. Seeing no harm in it, Leon put his arm around Ada and let her lean against him while the rest of the movie played. It felt right, having her with him like this, and Leon kissed the top of Ada’s head. He inhaled the floral scent of her shampoo and felt comforted by it. 

Ebony was asleep on Ada’s lap as well and did not seem to have any care at all.

The raven-haired woman pressed her head deeper into the crook of Leon’s neck and she briefly nuzzled his collarbone before sighing happily in her sleep. The warmth and comfort of his embrace was something she missed and sorely needed. If only this moment could last forever…

Leon felt something stir in his loins when Ada nuzzled him but he quickly tempered it. This was supposed to be a sweet, romantic moment. Plus, Ada was sleeping so peacefully. Leon did his best not to do anything that might wake her. He stroked her shoulder and held her close until the Sun went down and the end credits began to roll. 

She kept on snoozing, her dreams were pleasant and calm. They were strolling hand in hand on a beach and enjoying each other’s company. 

Little Ebony shifted slightly on Ada’s lap, exposing her belly full of jet-black fur. This was truly a moment of bliss for both the feline and its human owner. Leon took this opportunity to gently rub the cat’s furry abdomen which elicited a purr from the feline, its paws kneading the air. 

Leon knew they could not just sit here all night though; Ada would want to change and get ready for bed. Leon made a small cough and gently nudged his wife’s shoulder, hoping to rouse her. “Hey, uh, movie’s over,” he said softly.

“Mm…” Ada whined softly as she shifted in his hold when he nudged her. Ebony began to stir on Ada’s lap, turning herself over to be on her stomach. Claws were extended as the black feline stretched its lithe body. That finally brought Ada out of her stupor. “Ebony, no,” she murmured sleepily and opened her eyes to realize that she was very close to Leon’s face. His scent and the gentle look he was giving her were intoxicating. 

But she couldn’t act on her instincts right now. 

Ada pulled away from him and Ebony jumped off her lap, “Sorry about that.” She looked at the blank screen in front of them, “Did I miss the rest of the movie? How was it?” 

She stretched her arms and popped the kinks in her neck.

Leon was disheartened when Ada pulled away from him. He nodded in reply, “Yeah. The rest was pretty funny, and heartwarming, and a little sad…” His voice trailed off a bit as he stood up. The blonde scratched Cobalt behind the ears, the orange cat still perched on the head of the couch.

“Sad? Which character died?” Ada asked, a little astonished that such a playful movie would contain moments of grief.

She reached over to give Cobalt a pet as well and the cat yawned before closing his eyes to nap some more. It was best that she left him alone. 

“I don’t want to spoil it,” Leon replied. 

Ada shrugged at his response. She could always read the synopsis and spoil herself if she had no time in the future to re-watch the movie. 

“It’s kind of late. I guess we should get some sleep,” Leon said. “So, are we going to share the same bed, or…?”

Ada carefully considered Leon’s question regarding sleeping arrangements before reaching a difficult conclusion.

“I do not wish to take advantage of the situation, handsome. It is best that I relocate to the guest room temporarily while you recover. I’ll get some of my things.”

She turned away from her husband and headed upstairs to her walk-in wardrobe that was within the master bedroom. “You could help me move my belongings, if you want,” she called out from the stairs.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Leon mumbled and sighed when Ada was out of earshot, his eyes downcast and crestfallen. 

“Be right there.” He replied as he climbed the stairs. Leon went into the bedroom with Ada and began helping her move her things to the table where she had her duffel bag, saying very little. The government agent thought that things were going well, but there was still a big gap between him and Ada that needed crossing.

After handling her toiletries, Leon did take a moment to examine all the clothes Ada had in the closet. He recognized the ones she had worn before, in Raccoon City, Spain, China, and the Eastern Slav Republic. The blonde was a little surprised she had kept them, wondering if it was out of sentimentality.

“You kept all of these?” Leon finally asked Ada as he held her long red dress, his favourite.

Ada was stuffing her essentials into a duffel bag as she allowed Leon free rein of her wardrobe, letting him take his time with her belongings. She wondered if she made the right decision to move out of their matrimonial bedroom. It almost felt that they were on a break when in reality, her husband was only having amnesia.

His query interrupted her thoughts and she turned towards him, “Yes, I cherished the moments spent with you even if they were short. Doubt I’ll be wearing them any time soon. Some are tattered.” 

The outfit she wore in Raccoon City was in bad shape and kept within a transparent garment bag. Even with all the grime and blood cleaned, the seams were frayed, and wearing it guaranteed that the dress would be ripped to shreds.

“I believe you have your own box filled with trinkets that I’ve given you over the years." 

She knew that he kept the little teddy bear keychain and makeup compact. He had shown the box to her before.

“Oh, yeah, that…” Leon, once again, felt embarrassed that Ada knew one of his little secrets. That box of his was special, but of course Ada would know of it. It was not a big deal since they were married.

The two of them finished moving Ada’s things into the guest room, neatly stowing them away. “Well, I guess this is goodnight,” The blonde said. Leon felt slightly awkward, but still a little bit daring. “I’ll see you in the morning, Ada.” With that said, Leon gently took Ada’s hand and kissed the back of it, believing it to not be inappropriate.

Ada’s eyes widened slightly when Leon kissed the back of her hand and a warm feeling pooled in her stomach before spreading through her body. 

Returning the favour, Ada leaned in and brushed her lips against his slightly scruffy cheek. It was a little chaste by their usual standards but given how awkward they were around each other right now, it was better than nothing.  

Leon felt the same tingling sensation from earlier when he was watching the movie. No, he would not allow lust to take over him, not like this. He would just have to accept what was being given right now without asking for more. 

“Good night, handsome.” His wife said softly and saw him out of the guest bedroom door. 

“Goodnight.” Leon replied as he left the room. He sighed on his way back to the bedroom, full of mixed feelings. The agent hoped that another night’s rest would help him remember more of what he had forgotten. 

He padded around their room and adjoined bathroom, getting reacquainted with his surroundings. A whiff of Ada’s perfume lingered constantly as he took a quick shower and brushed his teeth before he donned his sleepwear. 

The blonde then finally opened his briefcase from the director, it contained his phone and cleaned clothes in a ziplock bag, and his firearm in a separate compartment. He fished out the phone and tried to switch it on. Nothing. It was either out of power or rendered useless. He hoped it was the former. 

Placing his phone on the bedside table and shutting the briefcase, Leon slid under the bed covers and got comfortable, closing his eyes. The mattress was soft, but he could not help but wonder what it would be like if Ada was sleeping beside him. He drifted into slumber, awaiting what the next day would bring him and Ada.

The guest shower and bedroom felt strangely alien to Ada even though she was in her own house. It took her a while to find a sweet spot to relax under the blanket and she kept staring at the doorway, hoping that Leon would join her or maybe carry her back to their matrimonial bedroom.

But nothing transpired and Ada closed her eyes, drifting into an uneasy slumber. 

[ask-a-w]

Absent Mind Chapter 7: Rest and Recovery

AO3

FF.net

Previous chapter: Chapter 6 - Confused and Confounded

Next chapter: Chapter 8 - Home Sweet Home

---------------

A few hours later, a raven haired woman returned with a small duffel bag containing Leon’s personal items which included a change of clothes and toiletries. There was a small photo album containing pictures from their wedding and a handful of others that featured Cobalt and Ebony. 

Instead of Reginald, there was a different DSO agent posted outside the door and after verifying her identity, he allowed her into the room. 

Praying the sliding door would not squeak so loudly, Ada slinked into his room quietly and deposited the bag into the bedside cabinet before taking her place on the chair at the side of his bed. Leon’s eyes were closed and other than the bandage and bruises, he looked so peaceful in his slumber. She noted her husband was no longer hooked up either. They must have removed the attachments when she was away. 

The longer she stared at Leon, the more she felt like snoozing as well. It had been quite an exhausting night after all. Over the course of a few hours, she learned about her beloved’s whereabouts, his current health condition, and made the drive home and back to the hospital. 

Other than a quick shower and snack, she had not rested. At the peak of her career, she could have easily gone a few days with minimal sleep. But her body had been attuned to domestic life and was now requesting for a siesta after the adrenaline had worked off. 

Ada simply gave in and closed her eyes, letting sleep take her. The couple rested with ease now that they were finally together, even though the circumstances were not ideal. 

-------------

Leon slept well enough, but his dreams were still scrambled and foggy. Anything new came to him in only bits and pieces that he could not make out. When he awoke, he thought it had just been a dream, but he finally truly believed it was real when he found himself still in the hospital.

The blonde sighed as he looked around, and was surprised to find Ada asleep in the chair beside him. Leon rarely got a chance to admire her like this. She was as beautiful as when he first met her all those years ago, and to think she had finally settled down with him. His gaze lingered on her for a long time, examining her dark hair, perfect skin and features. Ada was a guardian angel in his eyes, and always would be.

Ada had a relatively dreamless sleep until the end when it was peppered with scenes of running, felines, and Leon in no particular order. The general feeling she had in dream was bliss before it was replaced with worry. In the dream, her husband suddenly stopped and sinkholes appeared under his feet. His body slowly sunk and all she could do was watch in horror.

Then, she felt herself get pulled back and Leon’s image became smaller, fainter, and the colours went dimmer. 

She frowned and opened her eyes. Her surroundings were unfamiliar and her neck was aching. Ada blinked a couple of times before raising her head, staring at the sterile environment. The soft beeping sound emanating from the side reminded her that she was in the hospital. 

Right, Leon was warded. She focused her attention on the blonde to find that he was already awake, gazing at her intently. The raven haired woman was contemplating on whether to tease him or be serious. She went with the former.

“Enjoying the view?” She asked with a smile before stretching out her sore muscles. Her throat felt dry and she stood up to head to the bedside table to pour more water for herself.

Leon looked the other way to hide his blush. Not that he should feel embarrassed, they were married, right?

“You didn’t need to sleep in the chair,” he said. Leon wanted to stand up and stretch, but they warned him that he wasn’t cleared to walk without assistance. The best he could do was sit up straight and flex his arms, popping his neck and shoulders. 

“It was the only suitable space left in the room to rest,” Ada replied and raised an eyebrow when her husband got all bashful. He was still cute as always. 

It was then that his stomach growled. “Hmm, I haven’t had much to eat,” he said as he turned back to Ada, eyeing her bag. “Did you bring any snacks?”

She shook her head, “I wasn’t sure if you were allowed to eat solids yet. I’m sure they’ll bring you breakfast soon. I can bring some crackers once you start eating.”

Leon glanced around the room and saw his duffel bag, assuming it contained his clothes and toiletries “Hope I can freshen up. I’m sure I’m reeking. How long was I asleep anyway? What time is it?” 

Ada smiled at him reassuringly, “You smell fine. I assume someone gave you a wipe down when you were unconscious. Lucky them.”

At the mention of the time, her facial expression froze and she glanced at the watch on her wrist, her eyes were not registering the digits on the clock face as she zoned out. Its twin was at home on Leon’s bedside table. The reason why he was in his state came rushing back to her. 

“Sorry Leon, I didn’t keep track of the time,” she said quietly. “My guess is that it’s probably close to sunrise.”

Leon was confused, and squinted at Ada. “You just looked at your watch though.” The blonde noticed her sudden change in attitude, and was a bit concerned. Before he could ask more about it, the doctor entered the room with a clipboard in hand.

That was great timing and Ada was relieved that she did not have to explain the situation to Leon.

“Ah good morning,” the doctor said. “We’ll need to run some more tests on you, Mr. Kennedy. If all goes well and you can walk unaided, you can be out of here in a couple of days.”

Leon nodded to the doctor, “Am I allowed any food? I’m feeling peckish.”

“You’ll have to take it slow today, just soft foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, and soup. Then you can gradually increase your fibre intake starting tomorrow.”

The blonde exhaled quietly through his mouth. All this talk about food was making him ravenous.��

“What time would breakfast be served? It’ll be good for him to get some nourishment first before you perform your tests,” Ada added, knowing how much her husband needed food. 

The doctor glanced at his watch, “In ten minutes or so. The investigations will be conducted afterwards. If you have no more questions, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The couple was left alone once more and Leon gave his wife a grateful smile, knowing that his meal was on the way. “You should eat something too.” 

Wait, did that sound like a command? 

“I mean, that is if you usually have breakfast. You don’t have to force yourself to eat on my account,” Leon rambled on a little more. 

Seeing him flustered was so freaking adorable. It was also touching that even though he was wary of her yesterday, he still looked out for her. “I appreciate your concern, handsome. You don’t have to worry about me though, focus on your recovery first.”

Ada stood up from her chair and popped some of the kinks in her waist, aware that Leon was admiring how elegant she looked the entire time. “Though I do like the idea of taking a short walk. Don’t get into trouble while I’m gone,” she said coyly. 

“Heh. Yes, ma’am,” he gave her a mock salute. 

She made a beeline for the visitor’s lounge, knowing there were vending machines there. The hot sandwich that was dispensed was mediocre but it sustained her. Hopefully the tests would give him a clean bill of health and they would only have to work on his memory loss. She checked her phone, nothing new from Hunnigan. There was a message that her emergency leave from work was approved too. 

Ada returned to Leon’s room as he finally ate the first meal he had in days. “How’s everything?” She asked as she rummaged through the duffel to retrieve a small photo album.

Leon finished his yogurt and orange juice and wiped his lips with a paper napkin. “Alright, I guess,” he said with a shrug, eyeing the photo album Ada brought out. The blonde was starting to feel better now that he had some real food in his belly. Leon could tell Ada wanted to discuss other matters.

“Is that the album?” He asked, staring at the thick book. “How many photos do we have?” He was not sure if he actually remembered the album itself. Either way, Leon was curious, and Ada probably brought it to jog his memory.

“Plenty. This album contains snapshots from our wedding, honeymoon, and life at home with the cats. Your parents really enjoy viewing them.” She gingerly laid the album on the table hovering above his bed.

“You’ve met my parents?” Leon asked. He realized that, being married, that was not unlikely, but it had not crossed his mind. From his current memory, he had not seen his parents for a while.

Ada nodded, “They are nice people.” Her hand trembled slightly as she fingered the cover, hoping Leon would not be too shocked by the contents within. 

Here goes nothing…

She flipped it open and the image that greeted them was the couple on their wedding day with Leon in his blue suit and herself in a traditional Chinese red dress. They were in a chapel, holding hands and looking into each other’s eyes as they said their vows with the Sun shining upon them through the sunroof. 

Ada looked at Leon apprehensively to witness his reaction.

The blonde stared at the first photo of their wedding. He was fascinated by it, and pulled the album closer to get a better look. They looked so happy, he could feel the warmth and love emanating from the photograph, and Leon wished he could remember. A small smile formed on his face, and he was eager to see more. Something about it did seem to jog his memory a bit though… He could almost feel the heat and sunshine on his face on their wedding day. 

He perused more photos of their wedding, they were posing outside a stone building and they were laughing. Leon had never seen Ada smile so widely before, it must have been a truly spectacular day. 

There was another one where he tucked a flower into her hair and Ada was gazing at him with adoration. In his dreams, he had wished for a life with her and imagined her looking at him exactly like this when he came home. 

The one that he enjoyed viewing the most was them kissing in front of the pastor. She had one hand on his chin while he had wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against him. 

“We were married somewhere special, weren’t we?” Leon whispered after a while. “I don’t remember exactly, but it seems familiar. We had to go a long way to get there?”

All the while, Ada watched Leon’s expression with bated breath as he perused the album and his smile was infectious. Her husband was at ease as he flipped through the pictures of their short married life. It seems he was not repulsed by their intimacy and sheer bliss.

She nodded at Leon’s question, “We did have to fly across the country. As for whether it was special, it was held in a small chapel in Vegas with just the two of us.”

Before Leon could check out the next series of photos, a nursing staff entered. “Hi, Mr Kennedy. The doctor has ordered tests and a physiotherapy session for you. Shall we get started?” 

Ada closed the album and was about to return it to the duffel bag when Leon tapped the back of her hand, “You can leave it on the tray table, I’ll continue looking at it later.”

She acquiesced and kept mostly to the background, allowing the medical professionals free rein to run a myriad of tests on her husband.

They spent the rest of the morning testing things like his sight, hearing, reflexes, and seeing if he felt any pain anywhere. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, aside from the amnesia, occasional headache, and the bruising on his face. 

With the tests done, Leon could finally start his physio. The therapist instructed him to wiggle his toes first, before rotating his ankles, and then bending his knees. Everything appeared to work fine, though his knees felt a little stiff. 

The therapist brought a walker to the side of Leon’s bed and the blonde shuffled the lower half of body over the mattress. Gingerly grasping the handlebars, the blonde firmly planted his feet on the floor and pushed his body to a standing position. 

He did not expect the endeavour to take so much effort though. It felt like he was weighed down by an unseen force. This should be a battle of mind over matter right? 

“How do you feel, Mr Kennedy?” The therapist asked gently. 

“H-heavy,” Leon admitted. 

“Do you want to take a step forward?” 

Leon nodded and gazed down at the walker to see where his feet were. He lifted one leg up, followed by the other. The movement wasn’t too difficult but he was suddenly washed over by a sense of déjà vu… He felt fine but his brain was warning him that he would be falling soon. 

Strange, he didn’t recall experiencing this sensation of dizziness before but it appeared his body was familiar with it. He closed his eyes, doing a quick inhale and exhale. 

There was a hand on his elbow and waist along with a scent of floral perfume. One that he caught a whiff of when he cradled Ada’s body in Lanshiang. He wasn’t expecting her to still wear this particular fragrance after so long. But it felt comforting, nonetheless. Leon opened his eyes, turning to see his spouse supporting him with an expression of concern. “Are you okay, handsome?”

“Yeah…” a faint blush tinged his cheeks at their close proximity. “I just felt a little lightheaded.”

The therapist pursed his lips and wrote something on his clipboard. “You can take it slow, Mr Kennedy. Are you able to walk to the bathroom?” 

If Leon was in the pink of health, the distance could easily be covered in five strides. Right now, he wasn’t feeling too confident. “I can certainly try.”

“I’ll be right here,” Ada said reassuringly and let go but still remained at a safe distance, ready to catch him if need be. She watched with anticipation as her husband slowly moved the frame forward followed by his feet. He was not one to give up easily, even when he was injured. The raven haired woman had witnessed this feat multiple times through the years and she was a little relieved that his amnesia did not alter his personality. 

The blonde took his time and grew more confident with each step, no longer deliberating his movements. He entered the bathroom and exclaimed at his reflection in the mirror, causing Ada and the therapist to poke their heads through the doorway where they saw Leon gingerly inspecting his bruises. “I didn’t know my face looked worse than it feels.”

Leon stopped examining himself and made the return trip to his bed with a smile, “That wasn’t so bad.” 

His wife returned his gesture with a grin of her own. Both continued to gaze into each other’s eyes until a cough interrupted them. 

“That was quite a huge progress, Mr Kennedy,” the therapist said. “With more practice, I think you can be without the walker pretty soon. I’ll leave it here and you can walk around the room as long as someone is here with you.” He glanced over at Ada, seeing how she was being quite protective of her husband. His patient would be in good hands. 

-------------

After lunch, Leon continued to practise walking under Ada’s watchful eye. He became independent without the walker by late afternoon. Bending down and standing was a slight issue though as he still felt some vertigo. 

The blonde sank down on the bed with a sigh, “I could use a break.” He took the pre-offered cup of water from his wife and drank it greedily. 

“It’s time for me to get back to this,” he gestured to the photo album on the tray table, picking it up and flipping to the page where he left off, standing outside the chapel on their wedding day. 

A memory flashed by him, one of Ada being slightly bashful as she started walking down the aisle. Leon also recalled another one of him running and jumping after her and as he turned to a new page, there was a photo of him in mid-air with Ada glancing back at him with a megawatt smile. 

“I just remembered this… It was hot outside. The pastor was very kind. Our photographer was our witness, wasn’t he?” 

Ada could only bob her head in surprise. “Yes. What else do you remember?”

Leon paused, furrowing his brows slightly. “Not much else, I’m afraid. I don’t even remember when I proposed marriage to you. But the photos are helpful.”

His thoughts then went into a slight panic. He didn’t think Ada would be one for tradition and sticking to the norms, based on how her wedding dress wasn’t white at all. Maybe he didn’t get an engagement ring at all. “I did propose, didn't I?”

“Of course, the proof is here,” Ada showed off her left hand. On her ring finger sat an eternity wedding band and a garnet ring. 

Leon admired it, liking how this shade of red suited her skin tone. He had chosen well. “I wish I could remember it…” the blonde said softly and his wife patted his shoulder reassuringly. 

“You recalled bits of our wedding. I’m sure the rest will come to you with time.”

The scenery then changed to images of their honeymoon in the Swiss Alps, they were all bundled up and having fun in the snow. One picture he enjoyed was them kissing in front of a gorgeous Christmas tree. He unconsciously bit his lip, trying to remember the feeling of her mouth on his. 

That did not go unnoticed by Ada, who was trying her hardest to not take advantage of him while he was vulnerable. Fortunately, the next series of photos featured their cats in different life stages. There was one of her holding a ribbon teaser in her hand as an orange kitten stood up to bat it. 

“Do you recall their names?” Ada asked. 

Leon shook his head, “No, I don't, but they’re a boy and a girl. The orange is a boy, and the black one is the girl. Is that right?”

She nodded at Leon’s reply. Whether he was nailing the answers through pure luck or if he really got bits and pieces of his memory back, she didn’t know. The raven haired woman did not want to discourage him. 

Ada pointed a well-manicured fingernail at the ginger cat, “This one’s Cobalt. I found him wandering near your apartment one day and took him in. Then we moved to our current house and adopted Ebony to keep him company.”

“Hmm, that sounds like names we would give them.” Leon murmured. Again, he was not sure how familiar this information was, but it made sense when he heard it. Nothing would seem to contradict what Ada told him.

“I think I’d like to see the cats for myself,” he said after a short while. “And see our house. I need to get out of this hospital. I hope I’m not expected to still go to work…” Leon added the last part playfully. The blonde did not want to act too dour, lest he worry Ada too much.

“I know. You’ll just have to wait for the doctor to give you the all clear, Leon. And if your employer makes you work, I will give them hell,” Ada replied and shared a moment of peace with her amnesiac spouse. 

Internally, she was worried. What if he never regained his memories? Will everything still be the same?

There was a knock on the door and the physician from before entered once more. “Hello again, Mr Kennedy. How are you feeling?”

“Much better than yesterday and this morning.”

The doctor smiled, “I’m glad to hear that. I know I said I’ll see you tomorrow but I thought I'd give you some good news.”

“Oh?” Ada said, her facial expression was silently imploring him to say more. 

“The results from the tests performed on you are normal and I was informed you are walking without assistance. We will keep you under observation for another night and if there are no further issues, you will be discharged tomorrow. You still need plenty of rest at home to heal your bruises and your memory loss though.”

“Does he need to come back for any reviews?” Ada asked. 

“His records say that it will be arranged via a private doctor.”

She raised an eyebrow. Private doctor? So, the DSO was taking responsibility after all. “I see. Thank you very much for caring for my husband, sir.”

The area around the doc’s eyes crinkled as he beamed and swiftly departed the suite. 

Leon reclined back as he looked through the album some more. They spent the rest of the evening going over the photos and talking about the house and their home life.

-------------

It was getting late and he wondered if she'd head home. “You don’t have to spend another night sleeping on the chair again. You should go home and have a proper rest.”

“I’ll be fine, handsome,” she said dismissively. 

“Then I’ll insist that you share the bed with me.”

Ada raised an eyebrow and stared at the size of the mattress which could clearly only fit one person comfortably. Two would be a tight squeeze and she wasn’t sure if she could keep her hands to herself. “You need a good night’s rest to recover, Leon. I’m not the patient here…” there was a wry tone in her voice that indicated that she was up for a challenge of wits. 

“You still need your energy to drive me home tomorrow. I don’t know the way,” he gave her a lop-sided smile with his best puppy dog eyes. 

She sighed, clearly this was a losing battle. “I made a vow to be with you in sickness and in health. Just let me be your wife. Isn’t that what you want?” her voice was quiet and firm as she gazed down at him. 

His blue grey eyes widened at her proclamation before they softened. “Ada… I truly love and appreciate what you’re doing. I might have lost my memories of our marriage but I’m still your husband and I care for your well-being too. Will you take my feelings into consideration?”

If only you took mine into consideration when you left your watch and ring behind. 

She retorted acidly in her thoughts but she quickly shut down whatever acrimony she was feeling. His continuous display of concern for her was threatening to make Ada’s emotions go into a tailspin. She needed to get out now. 

“As you wish,” Ada replied coolly and picked up her bag before strolling out of the room. 

Leon had a bad feeling that he said something wrong when she didn’t look back at him while leaving. Her face didn’t show it but she was clearly upset. Even though he only spent a short amount of time with her based on his current memory, he knew her well enough that she was displeased. 

The blonde swore under his breath at his blunder. 

Mrs Kennedy had tunnel vision during the drive home as she was purely focused on the road. She didn’t want to think at all. In a blur, she pulled up to the garage and entered the house where she was immediately greeted by two frantic cats. 

That brought her back to her senses. They had been left mostly alone for the past two days. She scooped the kitties into her arms and carried them upstairs. Both cats were relishing in the affection Ada was bestowing upon them. It helped that they were frequently held since kittenhood and were able to tolerate being carried. 

Ada reached the bedroom and deposited them onto the mattress and they went over to Leon’s side of the bed to get comfortable. She was pulling off her accessories and coat when her phone buzzed. 

Coloured curious, she glimpsed at the message. It was from Hunnigan. 

[txt] How is he faring? 

Her hazel eyes stared blankly at the screen, tempted to ignore the text. But Hunnigan had helped her immensely and she felt obligated to return the favour. 

[txt] Physically, back to normal but he still has amnesia. He could be discharged tomorrow. 

She placed down her phone and headed off to shower, allowing the heat and lavender scented body wash soothe her weary soul. 

Ada stepped out in a robe with a small towel around her head and saw another notification on her phone screen. She swiped her finger across the screen to read the text. 

[txt] That’s great news! I’m currently drafting up a policy to ensure this doesn’t happen again. 

There was nothing else for her to say and she reacted to the message with a thumbs up. With her hair dried and her nightly ritual of slathering moisturisers on herself completed, she slid into bed. 

Leon was right, this was much more comfortable than a chair. She tried to think about tomorrow but promptly succumbed to sleep out of exhaustion. 

[ask-a-w]

Absent Mind Chapter 6: Confused and Confounded

AO3

FF.net

Previous chapter: Chapter 5 - Into the Unknown

Next chapter: Chapter 7 - Rest and Recovery

---------

Ada was all but sprinting out of Ingrid’s home, the front door rebounded off the wall and the sound made Skadi jump to her feet as if she’d been kicked. It set off a long line of nervous barking and Ingrid immediately bent down to comfort her beloved pet, rhythmically murmuring soothing words and smoothing out her coat.

Fearing a noise complaint, Ingrid remained at her house despite wanting to accompany Ada. Leon’s wife hadn’t given Ingrid the chance to ask if she wanted to come along for the ride.

It took Hunnigan several minutes to calm her dog down before gathering her things. Her overnight bag was in a closet within the entryway of the house, awaiting such situations and was now called upon. 

Her earpiece buzzed as she waited for the line to be accepted. A groggy voice came through. An old friend, one that had been in the business as long as she had, gave her updates. 

“Havenwood– that’s a medical school ain’t it?” Ingrid asked as she started her car. 

Her friend’s reply rang out in her ears, “Yes but there is an operational working hospital connected to the teaching facility too. It is located just outside city limits.”

“Why was Agent Kennedy taken to a civilian hospital?” She fired off another question and barely made it past an amber light. 

There was a sigh on the other end. “I’m not sure. I’m drawing up a blank here. It’s like his records are being purposefully hidden.”

Hunnigan frowned at that response. She could only access the database on her work issued laptop that was in her office. Fifteen minutes later, she was on the roof of DSO headquarters and inside one of their private helicopters that was taking off. 

She had her laptop balanced on her knees, the screen cast a faint green glow on her visage as she furiously typed away on the keyboard. Occasionally the chopper would drop or lift as the air churned and Ingrid would clutch her device, white-knuckled. Her fingers brought out the archives, searching for information that could, in any way, pertain to where Leon had been found and where he had been previously.

- RESTRICTED ACCESS -

LOG IN: ___________

Ingrid entered her password. Rejected. She attempted it again and once more it was rejected. 

“What the hell?”

The pilot’s voice ran over the comms, “Somethin’ the matter?”

Hunnigan slammed her laptop closed. “No. How much longer?” If she wasn’t in such a noisy environment, she would have done this old fashioned way by calling the hospital to get the rest of John Doe’s information. But it didn’t hurt to try. 

-------

At Havenwood hospital, John Doe lay unconscious in bed. His head was wrapped up, injury caused by blunt force trauma and bruises of varying shades of purple and yellow marred his face. The staff said he was lucky to be alive. His identity remained unknown to them as he had yet to awaken but the presence of a suited man indicated that this patient was a special individual. 

In the distance, Ada was thankful the roads were relatively clear at this time of night and the drive out of the city wasn’t too long. The tyres of her car screeched to a halt upon reaching the parking lot situated behind the two-storey facility. Ada tugged on a red leather jacket and had just stepped out of the vehicle before an older agent approached her, flashing his DSO staff pass in her face, “This way, ma'am.”

A long time ago, she would have restrained any stranger that approached her, just to verify his identity. But tonight, she wasn’t in the mood. Her nerves were frayed and she was just on the edge. If this was a trap, they would have gotten to her already.

However, there was something familiar about this middle-aged bespectacled man… Didn’t she encounter him recently in the past week? That’s right, he was at the bio-security conference. 

Before she could say anything more, he had already turned away from her and Ada had no choice but to follow him into the hospital. His quick gait indicated he was not in the mood to chat. 

The scent of antiseptic hit her nose as soon as she was escorted down the sterile white hallways. The interior of the building looked fairly decent and nothing was unsettling her. After a few more left turns, she was led to a room situated at the end of the corridor. 

Ada had been briefed about Leon’s condition by the mysterious agent. Her husband remained in a coma after receiving some trauma to the head and had yet to wake up. Her lips settled into a grim, thin line upon hearing about his medical status. Head injuries often had long-term complications. 

The man remained outside as Ada disinfected her hands and waited for the doors to slide open before she entered the ICU properly. Her footsteps slowed as she took a good look at the patient lying there on the bed.

The first thing that caught her attention was Leon’s head. It was all bandaged up but small tufts of golden hair peeked out from underneath the dressing and glistened from light coming from the bedside lamp. It was an unmistakable shade of blonde that belonged to her husband. That was definitely him. 

His handsome face was almost unrecognisable with the myriad of contusions and it broke her heart to see him in this state. Her only consolation was the absence of a breathing tube which indicated that he could breathe on his own. The rest of his body was covered under the sheet. She could only hope it was relatively unscathed. With a sigh, she took a chair and pulled it over to his bedside.

-------

Another fifteen minutes later and the DSO helicopter touched down on the hospital roof. Ingrid waved off the chopper pilot and took the stairs, two at a time until she reached the desired floor. Suite 2012A, Intensive Care. It must have been worse than she had imagined. Anxiety wrapped her stomach into knots. Breathing heavily from sprinting down a few flights of stairs, she located the nurses station, presented her badge and asked to be shown to his room. 

The nurse practitioner walked ahead of her, reciting procedures while in the room. Hands cleaned and absolutely no outside food should be given to the patient. She categorised the information, creating a list in her head. 

She dropped her bags outside his room, pushing it well out of the flow of traffic in the hall. A sink and cleaning station was just outside the door. From the window, she could see Ada sitting beside the hospital bed. But she still couldn’t see Leon. 

There was another person that caught her attention though, DSO Director Martin was lingering at the other end of the corridor, talking into his phone. His presence answered the mystery on who was pulling the strings… Ingrid would have to tread carefully but right now, her friend was in need. 

Hunnigan went to the sink and turned on the faucet, meticulously picking under her nails, the industrial grade soap pungent in her nostrils. She dried her hands and held her breath as she opened the door. 

It felt like the wind was knocked out of her when she finally saw him. His eyes were puffy and remained closed. Skin had an awful violet tinge to it against the bleached, sterile room. Gauze criss crossed his cranium, a few wild blonde locks sprung forth like weeds through concrete sidewalks. His lips were split, cracked at the corners. 

For a moment, she tried to tell herself she had the wrong room. Leon would never look like this, so broken and bruised. This man looked small in the bed, as if he’d been there for a hundred years. It was Ada’s presence that remained sharp, like a hard slap to the face. No need to pinch her, she knew this was no dream.

She stood in the same spot for several minutes, waiting to be acknowledged. Her eyes dropped to the medical chart hanging at the foot of his bed. Tried to make out words in the illegible scrawl. Things like “hematoma” and “contusion” caught her eye. 

-------

Leon’s thoughts were hazy, an unfocused dream filled with scrambled images and muffled voices. He could see Lanshiang, with all the smoke and fire everywhere. There was Ada and the mutated Simmons, on the tower high above the ground. Leon had to protect her. He could see a helicopter, and Helena. They had boarded it, and he found the compact left by Ada. Leon thought they had taken off, but the images became even hazier. He needed to wake up.

The blonde man grumbled and moaned as he began to stir. His whole body felt sore and stiff. Leon opened his eyes and saw the hospital ceiling above, and felt himself lying in a bed. At least he was somewhere comfortable. He tried to sit up, but it took great effort, he felt his head beginning to spin from the attempt and he abandoned the idea. 

“Ugh, my head…” Leon mumbled as he rubbed his temple and felt the bandage. He looked up and saw Hunnigan. Not surprising. Then he saw Ada, which he found very surprising. Both women looked quite worried as they stared at him.

“Ada?” Leon asked, feeling very confused. “What are you doing here? What happened? Did we make it out of Lanshiang?” 

She would never simply come to him like this. Something must have been seriously wrong if she was here keeping vigil at his bedside. Plus, her outfit looked entirely different from when he saw her last. 

Ada was vaguely aware of Ingrid’s presence in the room but she was too focused on her husband. How badly hurt was he? Would he ever wake up?

Then, her wishes were granted as he stirred and groaned. His words made her heart sink. 

Lanshiang?

Ada shared a worried glance with Hunnigan before gazing back at Leon. 

Ingrid held Ada’s glance for a moment, it was uncomfortable but she’d rather have her eyes anywhere than on Leon’s broken and bruised body, the strange outline under the white sheets forcing her mind to imagine the limits his body had been pushed to. What lay beneath those sheets?

Both women shared the same thought- how serious was his concussion? 

“You should take it easy with your head injury,” Ada replied as she reached forward to adjust the blanket that had fallen off his shoulders. Hopefully he would be able to spot the wedding ring on her finger as she did so. She also thumbed a switch on the side of the bed that would help to elevate Leon’s upper back. 

Indeed, Leon did notice the wedding ring, making him raise an eyebrow. It was not the kind of thing he had ever seen the Asian woman wear. While he was appreciative of the change in his posture, he just kept quiet, still wondering if this was a sick trick. An after effect of being in an environment tainted by the C-virus?

An uncomfortable stillness fell over the room as Ada tended to Leon, anxious fingers tugging and pulling at the pillow behind his head, the blankets draped over his shoulders. The one good thing was that he did not pull away from her touch even though his expression screamed wariness. 

“I am your next of kin, handsome,” Ada said softly as she looked into his blue eyes sincerely before continuing her words. “And Lanshiang was almost three years ago.”

The silence that ensued was awkward… Ada was not sure how Leon would react to the news. He was a different man back then, almost jaded, until they finally sealed their union. And he slowly embarked on a path of healing, to become an even better man for himself and her. 

It took a few seconds for Leon to process the information. What Ada told him was utterly confusing. She was his wife, and Lanshiang was three years ago?

“What?” Leon whispered in disbelief as Ada adjusted his blanket, staring back into her eyes. She appeared to be honest with her response, but he just could not be sure around her… He felt a dull throb arising in his temples from the current situation. 

Thankfully the tension was interrupted by a middle-aged male doctor who entered the room.

“Ah, it’s good that you have woken up. And what a relief it is to see that you have friends.”

Ada glared at him coolly, “I’m his spouse.”

The doctor failed to notice her icy stare. “Then we can discuss your husband’s condition…” He turned to look at Hunnigan, “If you don’t mind, please vacate the room if you’re not related to the patient. You may visit him later.”

Ingrid was more than ready to comply and barely got off the chair when Mrs Kennedy intervened.  “She can stay. She’s his work supervisor and deserves to know,” Ada lied easily. Plus, she owed the brunette after abandoning her so suddenly. This was the next best thing she could do in this situation. 

It was a stretch of the truth. 

The doc shrugged and walked over to Leon to check his vitals. “Well, you have suffered quite a concussion, sir. There was some serious swelling and bruising but they seemed to have subsided slightly. Good news is you have no broken bones and the other parts of your body are unaffected.”

He gave his patient a somewhat stern look after he was satisfied by Leon’s pupil dilation response, “You still need to take it easy though. Don’t want to open the stitches on your forehead and get it infected now either. Even though you were in a four day coma, you might need some time to walk again. 

“He also has amnesia too. The past three years are missing,” Ada added on. 

“I see,” the medical professional replied flatly. “Head injuries may cause some memory loss. Give it time for him to recover.”

The raven haired woman made a small ‘hmm’ noise and helped to adjust Leon’s pillow a little more. “How long would it take?”

“It differs from person to person. It can range from hours to months,” the doctor said matter-of-factly. 

“I can transfer his past medical history, if it’ll help with the prognosis,” Ingrid quipped, the doctor turned to her, lips pursed a moment before looking back towards Ada. Ingrid looked between him and her, “I’ll relay all the information to them both later. I believe they need some time to catch up.”

There was a polite nod of her head and the FOS agent turned her attention towards Leon.

“Relax, rest up. I’ll handle everything else.” There was a poignant smile on her lips, briefly there and then gone as she pushed her glasses up and moved out of the room. 

Ada returned Hunnigan’s nod, grateful that Leon had a trusted colleague and friend after all these years.

Outside the room, Reginald was nowhere to be seen. Ingrid lifted her bag and carried it towards the nurses station. Once there, she brought out the laptop and logged into the archives to fetch his medical files. Heavily censored to protect him and the DSO but as complete as possible to allow the medical professionals unhindered care.                                             

She retrieved her phone and created a text message. 

[txt] Heading out once his doctor prints his medical files. Please, keep me updated.

Ada’s cell buzzed moments after the brunette left the room. It was probably a text from Hunnigan and she would read it later. For now, all her thoughts were on Leon, who had not spoken a word at all. 

The blonde’s countenance remained blank as everyone in the room spoke. Leon was stunned, and at that moment nothing seemed real. It had to be some sort of weird dream he was having, he just had to still be sleeping or in some kind of coma.

Leon could only lean back on his pillow, staring vacantly at nothing. The ache had subsided for now but he could not form a coherent thought for several moments, as his mind tried to piece everything together. He finally turned to look back at Ada, with a twinge of nervousness.

“Is this real?” The blonde asked Ada, the woman he had been pining after for years to no avail, whom he suddenly found himself married to. “We’re together now? We’ve… been together?” Leon hoped Ada knew what the last question meant.

Ada’s hazel eyes met the doc’s gray ones and the older man cleared his throat, “Don’t stress if you can’t remember anything, sir. Just take it easy for now. Your recovery is most important. I’ll take my leave.”

When they were finally alone, Ada finally answered his questions. “Yes, yes, and you have to be more specific,” she teased him gently, hoping that he would know that she was being genuine. 

Seeing how dry his lips were, Ada poured a cup of water from the conveniently placed pitcher on his bedside table. “Are you thirsty?”

“Yes, I am. Thanks,” Leon replied and watched as she found a bundle of wrapped straws from a small container beside the pitcher. She unwrapped the plastic and placed the straw into the cup, holding it gingerly against his lips. 

“Take it slow, you don’t want to choke.”

He nodded and took the water from Ada, still feeling very uneasy when her finger was an inch away from his mouth. But deep down, he was still glad when the doctor left, giving him and Ada some alone time. The blond gingerly sipped the water and licked his parched lips. It did not seem like this was a dream after all.

“You know what I mean.” He said after he drank his fill and Ada set the cup aside. “Have we had sex?” He did not feel like teasing him was appropriate right now, but Leon really could not be mad at Ada in most situations. “How long have we been married? How were you not taken to prison?”

Somewhere in his heart, he honestly hoped that he was married to Ada, living a happy life together, but he had been badly burned in the past and it all seemed too good to be true. The blonde wished he could remember anything.

Her husband’s words did sting but there was no point being upset over his memory loss. Since he was not convinced by her loving wife demeanour, Ada put on her default cool cat expression, “Naturally. Numerous times a day.” There was a small smile on her lips as she gazed at him with yet another playful look.

Leon blushed at Ada’s reply about sex and broke eye contact with her. He inwardly cursed his amnesia.

Her eyes softened after she answered his first question. “We’ll be married for two years this summer,” the raven haired woman exhaled another soft sigh as she poured water for herself and drank deeply from the same cup her husband just used.

“Lanshiang is a long, complicated story. All the answers were on the flashdrive I left for you.” This was not the right time to go into detail about Carla, it would just befuddle the blonde’s mind even more.

“I guess everything worked out fine then. The world didn’t end. We’re still here, alive.” The agent said softly. He remembered the call from Chris, telling him that Ada was dead, and how relieved he was when he saw she was still living.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Leon told his wife. “I was worried about you. I always am, but I see things have changed a lot.” He sunk back down into the pillow a little more, finally beginning to relax a little. “I hope this amnesia is only temporary. No one’s died since Lanshiang, have they?

Chris’s partner died… and there were also the civilians in the city that paid the ultimate price due to Carla’s skewed quest for vengeance. Her husband, though strong on the surface, was still soft at heart. If she told him the bad news, she feared it might aggravate his current condition.

“Death is part and parcel of life, Leon,” Ada replied cryptically. “But if you mean anyone from Raccoon, they are still well.” How long will their luck last however, she will never know. For now, they were content with each passing day.

“Okay,” Leon replied, satisfied with her answer.

Ada leaned back in her chair and got comfortable, “Just rest now, handsome.” She won’t run away and she will be there for him this time. 

Her husband closed his eyes but his mind was still fretting. Plus, the sensation of being hooked up in two places made him uncomfortable. After more than ten minutes of restlessness, he grunted and Ada tilted her head, “How can I help?”

He was feeling bashful about his complaint. But if the woman in front of him vowed to be with him in good times and bad, he should be comfortable around her. There was nothing that she hadn’t seen already. Leon pointed to his arm and the urinary drainage bag, “These are bothering me. I wonder if they can remove them now that I’m conscious.”

“Let me call for a staff,” His wife pressed a button and a nurse appeared a minute later. “Is it possible to remove the IV and catheter?”

“I’ll need to check the doctor’s orders for this.” The nurse departed as swiftly as she entered. 

A hush fell over the couple once more as Leon gazed around the room. Ada decided he needed some space for himself. 

“I’ll be returning home for a short while and I can bring some photographs to help jog your memory. Do you need me to bring anything else? Toiletries? I’m sure you would like to brush your teeth and maybe have a shower once you are cleared to walk.”

Ada was certain he would request shampoo and his hair gel. Leon was always looking presentable.

“Yeah, my toothbrush and toothpaste. And… whatever else you think I need, like hair products.”

Leon felt self-conscious mentioning this to her, a bit embarrassed that Ada already knew all the little things about him, but now he did not know hers. Everything was going to be awkward for him. Leon began thinking it would be best if he tried to piece things together from what he last remembered. That could be saved for later. Now, he just wanted to rest his mind.

“One more thing, where do we live?” He asked before she departed.

Ada watched as Leon went quiet. She knew he was slightly frustrated at his memory loss but she did not want him to shut her out. At the same time though, she was still peeved that he left his watch and ring behind. Her emotions were torn between relief and annoyance. For now, she would remain as neutral as possible. 

“A two-storey house just outside DC with two cats. I can bring you pictures of them.” 

Leon liked the thought of a house instead of his apartment. The cats were a tad unexpected, but that was fine. 

Ada reached over and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “I’ll see you later.” 

He looked down at Ada’s hand, enjoying her tender touch. It was a comforting feeling. This marriage had to be real then. 

“See ya around, Ada.” The blonde replied hopefully. 

There was a ghost of a smile on his wife’s lips as she remembered a time when she used the same phrase on him. After a moment of relishing the warmth of his fingers, Ada released her grip and left the room. 

Amnesia aside, Leon was thankful his injuries weren’t worse, or that he might have suffered a more devastating type of brain damage. He did wonder what sort of mission he had been on when he was injured. Leon hoped that he had not just slipped on a wet floor, or something ridiculous like that.

Ada noticed the middle aged man from before was standing guard outside Leon’s room. Were they expecting her husband to be assassinated? 

“Is there anyone from your company that I can speak to?" 

Without glancing at her, Director Martin shook his head. Ada frowned, “Then who knew that I was his next-of-kin and contacted me? Who told you to keep a lookout for me as I pulled up into the hospital? And I would prefer that we don’t waste each other’s time and you give me the answers I need.”

He sighed and motioned her to follow him to the visitor’s lounge which was thankfully empty. His voice was a whisper, "I contacted you ma'am. He has a picture of you on his desk so that was how I identified you.”

Ada raised an eyebrow, “Let me guess, you used a voice modulator when you called me and you were also related to the secret assignment he was sent on. Not only that, he is not in a DSO medical facility so you want this off the book.” Her voice had a dark edge to it as she said the last sentence.

Reginald gazed at her with a hardened expression, impressed that Leon married a formidable lady who was his equal. “You are certainly astute.”

“My previous employment required me to analyze situations.” She crossed her arms and glowered at him. “I have no desire to know the details of his assignment. I need reassurance that he will be able to receive adequate medical care here because he has amnesia at the moment. And that his health is not compromised because he is not in a DSO facility.”

The man’s nostrils flared slightly, “Ma'am, Agent Kennedy is one of our best agents and we do not want any further harm to come to him either. I could have asked my subordinates to do this but I am taking personal responsibility as one of the directors of this mission. Is that enough for you, Mrs. Kennedy?”

Ada quirked a smile. “Indeed. If his health deteriorates in any way, I shall hold you accountable. Is that fair?” Reginald nodded, “You have my word.” 

“Good.”

Without another word, Ada strode off with her heels echoing through the ICU wing and left the hospital. 

[ask-a-w]

Absent Mind Chapter 5: Into The Unknown

AO3

FF.net

Previous chapter: Chapter 4 - A Lengthy Conversation

Next chapter: Chapter 6 - Confused and Confounded

--------

4 DAYS AGO

The temperature dipped at night and Leon was grateful for the tactical winter jacket that Ada gifted him for their first Christmas as a married couple. He pulled the zipper up to his neck and huddled within the thermal blanket as he dreamt of holding his wife, imagining her heat mingling with his. It served as motivation for him to head home safely. He dared not to sink too heavily into his daydreams though, this assignment needed his full attention and he could not afford to be distracted. In this line of work, a split second of hesitation meant life or death. 

Without any operational support, Leon was on his own and he spent the past couple of days doing reconnaissance on foot, scouting out various routes that led to the building and charting the staff schedules. He observed that the personnel entered via the main entrance in the North but it was lined with biometric scanners and numerous armed men. 

That’s why he still favoured the smaller Southern road which he saw previously on the map as he was able to drive close enough without arousing suspicion. Satisfied with his discovery, he drove the vehicle off the road and had been walking ever since to conserve fuel. The area wasn’t that large anyway, each location could be reached within half an hour at a steady pace. 

In the morning, he carefully trekked through the bushes to avoid snakes, heading to his vantage point once more to confirm that the lone guard at the South entrance changed their shift every twelve hours. Getting in this way would be a piece of cake. He would just have to wait for nightfall when there were fewer people in the premises. 

Out of abundance of caution, he still made a backup plan just in case this path was blocked off during his escape. An unpaved, hilly road to the East that led to the nearest settlement. It was also in the same direction as the coordinates Reginald gave him. Why the townsfolk did not decide to level the hill to make travel more convenient, Leon did not know but it wasn’t his place to question it. 

When the blonde was skulking around the town’s watering hole on the day he arrived, he had overheard a senior staff member telling a new recruit how most of the building’s employees lived in the town as it was convenient and those with family a few hours away would head home on Friday night before returning on Sunday evening. 

That meant he could not afford to stay in the local inn, lest he got recognised by the staff during his infiltration. He opted to sleep in the jeep as it was stocked with at least a week’s worth of rations and water. Reginald might not have given him much intel but at least the provisions were adequate. The forest’s dense foliage provided a great cover for his vehicle too. It was reminiscent of his early training days when he roughed it out in the open. 

Within two days, he managed to establish a pattern in the routine of the building’s employees. They got about their day like clockwork, heading in at nine in the morning, knocking off at five, with some heading off to their rental homes to call it a day while others went to the bar for dinner, sitting together in their little clique to complain about work. 

There was always one portly man with greying brown hair who had too much to drink and today, he stumbled back to his home, fumbling for the keys in his pocket as he spent a minute trying to unlock the front door. Leon did not have to be an expert to see that this man had a drinking problem. 

Having been a functioning alcoholic himself, Leon would have sympathised with this poor sod. But, he had a mission to fulfil and a wife to get back to. The fool failed to close the door properly behind him this evening and Leon easily slipped in, shutting the front door with a soft click. 

The government agent waited in a small nook tucked to the side of the front door, listening to the sounds of the man stumble around his apartment as he muttered incoherently. One minute ticked away to two and by five minutes, silence permeated through the house. 

Time to explore. 

It was easy to locate the guy. All the blonde needed to do was to follow the stench to the bedroom where the man’s coat was haphazardly strewn on the floor along with the rest of his clothing. Leon hazarded a gaze towards the bed and sighed with relief. At least the snoring drunkard had some decency to cover himself with a blanket. 

With gloved hands, he rummaged through the coat’s main breast pocket and found a keycard. The title, “Chief Scientist”, stood out in bold, black font against a white background. What luck! Leon had to resist letting out a whoop as kept the card in his side pack. 

Seeing nothing of interest in the room, he made his way to other parts of this messy home, sifting through scraps of bills and crumpled receipts on the dining table before he found a dusty binder that was left forgotten on the table in the corner of the living room. 

He gingerly grabbed the corner of the hardcover binder and flipped it open. The contents was a welcome package for new employees. Other than the code of conduct and the organisation chart, there was a handy map. The blonde pulled out his phone and took pictures for reference. So far he had only surveyed the perimeter of the compound without knowing what was inside. At least he did not have to head into the unknown now. 

Leon continued to flip to the end of the binder and there was no more useful information. It was time to depart for the guard change in a couple of hours. Plenty of time to gear up and study the map. 

The blonde departed through the back door quietly and after ensuring that the coast was clear, he made his way back to the jeep. 

The leaves crunched under his boots as he trudged through the thick undergrowth and finally came upon his vehicle, still safely tucked away from prying eyes. Opening the hatch, he slipped on a tactical vest, securing the various clasps and tightening the straps till it laid snug against him like a comforting weight. Leon hoped this protective wear would not be needed at all. 

He switched on the ceiling light and hopped in, sitting cross legged in the back of the jeep as he unwrapped a ration bar, chewing it without thought while he perused the map. It was a short building with a pretty standard layout; the reception and conference rooms on the ground floor, offices on the second and third floor, and a rooftop garden? 

Where are the scientists doing their work, then?

Leon thought to himself. The binder in the chief scientist’s house did not indicate what sort of research was being conducted and the company name was too vague, sounding like a random surname stuck in front of the word “Corporation”. From experience, bioweaponary usually needed a bigger footprint. There had to be more than meets the eye. Reginald wouldn’t send him on a mission that was unrelated to bioterrorism now, would he?

“Maybe they’re underground…” he whispered to himself as he took a long swig of water from the numerous bottles loaded in the storage container. He tossed the empty wrapper and bottle into the trash bin and scooted out of the jeep, taking stock of his arsenal. Just his trusty knife and Silver Ghost. If things went to hell and he needed more firepower, he could take out the guards. 

Leon shut the hatch and got into the driver’s seat, making his way down the path to the South entrance. He parked the jeep behind a large spruce tree that had its lower branches fanning out near the base. 

Returning to his vantage point, the blonde spied on the guard who was staring at his wristwatch impatiently, wishing for the clock to finally hit the hour which indicated the end of his shift. The guard sighed as the digits changed to 22:00:00 and he walked off, not giving his surroundings a once over. 

There would be a thirty second window before the new guard made his appearance and Leon slipped under the car barrier, disappearing into the shadows of the trees as he made a beeline towards the building. 

The back entrance was just a simple grey door flushed into the corner of the building, there were no fancy glass doors or water features like the main lobby. He tapped the key card on the reader and it flashed green. Hearing the door unlock with a click, Leon tugged on the handle and entered, finding himself in a stairwell. A neon green “EXIT” sign buzzed overhead and he surmised this was some sort of fire escape route. 

Most peculiar was that the stairs went in both directions. The map did not indicate a basement and his gut was practically screaming at him to head down. 

The agent followed his instincts and walked on the balls of his feet to muffle his footsteps. Pulling out his handgun, he twisted the knob and it opened up to reveal a long corridor. It was shrouded in complete darkness and he activated the flashlight on his ear, illuminating the hallway to reveal glass windows on either side. 

He took one step and the fluorescent lights above him lit up on their own accord. Leon paused and waited, straining his ears for any signs of movement. There was silence and he took another step. Again, a small section of ceiling lights came to life. 

Motion sensor lights… It was probably a way to conserve power. 

His blue eyes were looking up at the ceiling every now and then to spot the tell-tale red blinking dot of a surveillance camera. Strangely, there were none. 

Emboldened, he strode down the corridor at a faster pace and came to the first window on the right. He peeked in to find rows of computer terminals with a large screen in the middle of the room. The window on the left had what looked like small incubation chambers. Some mysterious pink liquid bubbled within but he could not see any organism growing inside the plexiglass. 

He continued down the corridor to find a similar set up. The incubators still remained empty. Why would they grow seemingly nothing? 

Leon slid the chief scientist’s card into the card reader of the computer room and the door opened with a soft whoosh. The air within was chilly and he entered, heading to the terminal in front of the screen. A password was affixed on the edge of the screen and he logged in easily.

There were numerous folders on the screen and it appeared the owner was quite organised as the first folder was named “Bio-drone Proposal V1” followed by a few revisions until “Bio-drone Proposal V5”. The next few were called “Bio-drone Preliminary Results”, “Bio-drone Suggestions”, “Bio-drone Revisions”, when the last one at the end caught his interest. He accessed the folder labelled “Bio-drone Final Prototype”. 

It contained video files and Leon opened the latest one at the top, keeping the volume muted lest a security guard was making his rounds. What looked like a miniature pig appeared on screen and it was in the room with the incubation chambers. It sniffed around the perimeter of the room with its snout before the chamber doors suddenly opened. 

The pig was startled and ran to a corner to hide. Its efforts were futile and it began to shake its head, as if swatting away some invisible flies. 

What shocked Leon was that within a span of a few seconds, its skin began to slough off and bloody red blisters began to form in its place. The pig continued to rampage around the room in a frenzied panic before it finally collapsed in the centre of the room. 

Leon noted that the wounds rapidly festered into a necrotic black and he swallowed thickly, keeping down the urge to hurl. Even after more than a decade of facing decayed bio organic weapons, his vomit reflex could activate at random moments. 

He saw the video still had a bit more to go and he continued to watch the footage. The creature twitched its legs once, then twice and its whole body spasmed. It managed to stumble to its hooves shakily. 

The blonde guessed the aforementioned bio-drones that littered the scientist’s desktop were inside the incubation chambers. This must have been the new weapon Reginald alluded to. 

A weapon too small to be seen by the naked eye. 

It was imperative that he needed to find the server room promptly. 

The blonde kept clicking around the desktop for a schematic but there was none. Still, he stuck a portable flashdrive into the USB port and copied as many files as he could. Any research data would be useful. 

-------

Leon had a close shave with a guard that was making his rounds through the basement. Thankfully, a well-timed rat scurried through the corridor and the guard assumed the rodent triggered the motion sensor lights. After the guard went away, the government agent waited a few minutes in the dark before he finally left his hiding spot. 

The server room was not in the hidden basement at all. That meant it was situated upstairs. He would just have to search floor by floor from the roof. The map on the current level showed no server room anywhere. 

Perhaps it could be accessed from the rooftop garden… He thought to himself with a wry grin. From his ‘luck’, these things tend to be in unusual places sometimes. 

The journey to the top was uneventful and he tapped the card against the reader, waiting for it to unlock. Nudging it open with his free hand, he was hit by a blast of cool air. He toggled his flashlight and there were no flowers or grass in sight. 

In fact, it looked just like another office space with columns of black server racks. Leon continued to keep his eyes peeled for cameras; still nothing. Despite having such intricate security measures at the main entrance, there were almost no security features inside the building. 

He went straight for the nearest console and instead of a standard login screen, there was a card reader. Leon hoped the chief scientist was authorised to login and he scanned the card, hearing a single beep. 

A green ‘WELCOME DR JERRY’ greeted him on the screen. 

“Thank you, Jerry,” Leon muttered under his breath and began to search for the precious schematics. The links were not clearly labelled and after some aimless clicking, he finally chanced upon a link that said ‘BLUEPRINT’. 

A drawing of what looked like a mosquito was brought up and he almost scoffed at first but when he read the descriptions on how it was powered and where the virus would be carried, did Leon realise how lethal this could be. 

He utilised his flashdrive once more to transfer the file and ejected it when the upload was completed. The government agent remembered Reginald’s instruction to wipe the server and he went into the Settings, searching for the delete command. 

Upon clicking it, a series of words popped up. 

‘Warning, self-destruct will be initiated upon deletion. Proceed?’

Self-destruct? That seemed like an overkill over a drone diagram. 

At least his infiltration took place at night when there were less people around. Still, Leon did not want to take any unnecessary lives… 

His blue-grey eyes roamed around the room until he spotted a fire alarm call point sticking out of the wall near the entrance. Triggering that would automatically lead to an evacuation. He raised his pistol with his right hand and kept his left finger on the terminal’s controls. 

Inhaling and exhaling a few controlled breaths, Leon stilled his mind and concentrated on the target. His finger squeezed the trigger and a shrill siren sounded soon after. Almost immediately, he hit the enter button on the keyboard and another announcement blared on the speakers. 

The government agent did not stay to listen, and the broadcast was almost impossible to hear with klaxons blaring simultaneously anyway. He bolted towards the door just as a shockwave sent him flying to the stairwell, causing him to collide against the wall. Even though he managed to partially cushion the impact with his arms, he still crumpled to the floor. Momentarily stunned, Leon blinked the stars out of his eyes as the building’s PA system was replaced by a continuous high pitched ringing in his ears. 

Snap out of it! You need to get home to Ada!

Leon stumbled to his feet and grasped the railings as he tried to climb down. But his head and vision were not co-operating with his legs at all. His body was telling him he was going to fall down but he still managed to remain upright. Each step he tried to take caused a surge of vertigo and threatened to make him lose his meagre dinner. The signals between his nervous system and limbs were disjointed. 

He closed his eyes and continued to take slow breaths. In, in, out, out. Allowing his chest to expand and deflate. It was mind over matter now. The ringing gradually thinned out and there was a sudden whoosh as his hearing went back to normal. He shook his head and with a fresh burst of adrenaline, he hustled down the stairs as the building started to rumble and shake. 

The guard from earlier was scurrying up the stairs and stopped when he spotted the blonde trespasser, “Fr-!” 

His words were cut short as Leon swiftly dispatched him. There was no time to mourn during a life or death situation. Leon could only hope the body would go up in flames during the destruction. It was the only piece of evidence that he was here. 

There was a loud crack and Leon looked up before he threw his body over the railing. A piece of the ceiling came crashing down on where he previously stood. This was a surprisingly swift self-destruct system. Probably designed to take any saboteurs along with it.

It gave Leon more reason to pull through and succeed in this assignment. 

He made his way out of the back door and could hear the wailing sirens of emergency services in the distance behind him. There were probably first responders piling in at the main entrance. He disappeared into the trees and slowed when he neared the guard post which was thankfully empty. 

As Leon leapt over the barrier, an earth-shattering explosion occurred behind him. Even though he was a distance away, he felt the rush of heat and pressure pounding into his very soul. The trees bent and loose branches snapped from the impact. 

Something hefty struck the back of his head when he grabbed the handle of the jeep and he face-planted against the window pane, a smear of blood staining the glass. Fresh pain throbbed on his nose bridge and in between his eyebrows as Leon hazily gazed at his reflection. The skin on his forehead had split open and he hastily wiped it away with the back of his glove. 

There was no time to worry about his injuries; he had to make himself scarce immediately. Once he got to safety, then he could administer first aid to himself. But the throbbing on his face was starting to annoy him. He could not afford any delays. Fingering around the inner lining of his jacket, he found a couple of small pills in a blister pack and popped them into his mouth, wincing at the bitter aftertaste. That would have to suffice for now. 

Leon got into the vehicle and started the engine, flooring the gas pedal as he drove to the extraction point. He had the route memorised but with his train of thought overwhelmed by a gnawing headache at the base of his skull, he was grateful that he had the foresight to key in the coordinates into the GPS. 

All he had to do was to maintain his grip on the steering wheel and keep his eyes on the road. 

The first ten minutes were uneventful but soon, his headache grew and radiated up his jaw, feeling like a little inchworm snaking its way to his temple. After almost veering off the road, he was forced to decelerate for his own safety. 

In the rearview mirror, he could see the orange glow of the burning facility lighting up the night sky like an eerie smoke signal. There was still not enough distance between them for his liking. Leon continued to press forward, keeping his sights in between the lane markers, and ignoring the pounding heartbeat in his head.  

Try as he might, the blonde must have been in a stupor as the lines were slowly becoming a little squiggly, almost blending into a swirl that reminded him of the Milky Way. It was getting hard to breathe too as every inhale brought a fresh stab of agony to his face. He suspected he might have broken his nose. 

Leon cast a quick glance at the GPS and blinked a few times to focus when his initial glimpse was just misshapen blobs of colour. It was a good thing he was driving at a much slower speed, that distraction could have been fatal. 

Almost there…

The surrounding trees gradually gave way to flatlands and he spotted a white and blue structure that loomed in the distance. It was located directly on his coordinates. 

That better be a safe house... Can’t hold on much longer….

To his dismay, the transparent glass windows informed him that it was a phone booth. He almost let out a curse. That was not what he needed right now. 

Then he recalled the instructions. 

“…head to this location and press 0”

With renewed resolve, Leon braked and screeched to a stop, throwing the door open as it bounced loudly against the back door, and he lurched towards his salvation. 

The agent grabbed the handset and dialled ‘0’. There was silence and one second became five… With all his strength zapped away, Leon slid to the ground from exhaustion as he fervently waited for the ringtone. His chest screamed in pain as it suddenly became an arduous task to draw breath. He opened his mouth to inhale what little air he could.

The thudding in his ears grew quieter and his gaze shifted to the stars in the sky which had the faintest red glow from the explosion. It reminded him of the fires from the Quad Tower in Lanshiang and he could almost picture Ada’s silhouette walking into view. 

Leon’s last thoughts were of this beautiful woman in red as the world turned silent and dark. 

[ask-a-w]

Absent Mind Chapter 4: A Lengthy Conversation

AO3

FF.net

Previous chapter: Chapter 3 - Day By Day

Next chapter: Chapter 5 - Into The Unknown

------------

Time to take matters into her own hands since it had been a solid week with no news about Leon. After Ada was done consuming the last of the leftovers and washing up the dishes, the ex-operative decided it was time to do a little “field” work.

She opened a corner of her wardrobe where her old tactical outfits were stored. They were kept for mostly sentimental reasons… and for emergencies. Ada donned an all black outfit to blend in with the night. Weapons were minimal, just a small trusty Beretta and a knife. Not that she would use them but it didn’t hurt to be prepared.

The gadgets on the other hand, packed a little more punch, considering that Hunnigan’s house might have some extra security features.

Once the necessary items were all loaded into her side packs, she bade her cats farewell with affectionate scratches on their heads, and left for Hunnigan’s.

Ada parked her vehicle a short distance away and using the cover of the night, she stuck to the shadows as she made her way over to the darkened house. The brunette wasn’t home yet.

Stopping at the fence, she crouched down, and pulled out a detector to read the frequencies on the screen. Just some standard alarms on the doors and windows.

It was nothing her jammer could not handle. The ex-spy activated it and within a few seconds, the alarms were out. But she wasn’t in the clear. Her hazel eyes peeked through the slits in the fence and she spotted the tell tale red lights of the security cameras located on the balcony.

Hacking took time and Ada opted for the old fashioned route of staying out of the camera’s line of sight. There was a blind spot between the fence and the kitchen window.

Seizing the opportunity, Ada leapt over the fence stealthily and rolled on the grass, towards the window. It was latched shut but she stuck a magnet on the glass and moved it, unlatching the window from the outside.

Ada was in the house within a few seconds and after locking the window, she heard a sharp bark and her heart stopped for a second. She held her breath as the sound of trotting footsteps grew louder followed by panting. A husky entered the kitchen and Ada bent down, cautiously sticking her hand out as the curious canine sniffed it.

“Remember me?”

The dog’s tail wagged eagerly from side to side and it licked her fingers. Before Leon and Ada adopted Ebony, they used to drop off Cobalt at Hunnigan’s for petsitting. Thank goodness the ginger feline was unperturbed by a dog and both got along well. The husky warmed up to strangers and was happy to see a long-lost “friend” again. 

Ada pulled out a treat from her pocket and the husky ate it with relish. “Good dog,” she said soothingly as she went to make herself comfortable at the dining table while the dog followed her, setting itself down at her feet.

She deactivated the jammer and restarted the alarms in the house. Might as well keep the dwelling secure in the meantime, lest actual thieves broke in.

Now to wait for Ingrid Hunnigan.

---------

On Monday night Hunnigan left work late. She had messaged her contacts in the biowarfare industry to enquire if there was something occurring that might have taken Leon away but everyone assured her that they knew nothing of such a situation. Budding or otherwise. 

Too tired to head home to cook, she ended up going out for dinner. A little Italian place she frequented where all the servers knew her by name along with her favourite dishes. It was owned by an elderly couple who treated everyone like their own family members. 

Her worry for Leon failed to whet her appetite though and the owners of the restaurant asked if she was alright. Ingrid gave a white lie that she was feeling a little drained. The owner, in her own grandmotherly way, told Ingrid that she needed to take care of herself and gave some lasagna leftovers on the house. 

Touched by the gesture, Hunnigan left a generous tip and carefully clutched the takeaway bag in her hand as she unlocked her car. 

Driving home she found herself sitting in her driveway long after the car engine turned off. There was a muffled stillness as the air ceased to circulate. She grabbed the leftovers, her computer bag, jacket, and cellphone before exiting the car.

Her front door swung open, the darkness of the house yawning like a hungry maw. She didn’t bother to turn the lights on right away. Her heels came off as she stepped into the foyer, placing them off to the side. 

Skadi must have been sleeping somewhere at the back of the house, she thought to herself, because she is usually here waiting for me.

To the left of the door was a small vanity. She deposited her keys and the leftovers there, then closed the door. Behind the door, shoved into a corner was a coat rack. She hung her jacket then dug through the pockets. Her identification badge, her work cell, keys to her office were all dropped into an elegant, glass bowl on the vanity. 

She reached over to the far wall and flicked a switch, the yellow bulbs overhead immediately painting the foyer and living room in light. She stepped through and heard some light scratches coming from the kitchen. 

“Skadi, you better not be trying to get into the pantry again.” Ingrid spoke in a mock-scolding manner. 

She moved through the living room and stepped into the kitchen. She flicked another switch, and the fluorescent lights blinded her a moment when she felt her dog collide against her knee. Reflexively, Hunnigan ran a hand down Skadi’s head when her eyes detected the obsidian silhouette of a person. The island was between them, she held out her phone like a weapon and blinked a few times. 

“What the hell?!”

---------

Ada must have counted the amount of stitches on the tablecloth at least ten times before she heard the key turning in the lock. She chose to remain still, allowing Hunnigan to settle down before she made her presence known.

Skadi’s ears pricked up when Hunnigan called out to her. The husky ran happily in a little circle as its nails lightly scratched against the wooden floor before it bounded up to her owner just as the lights were switched on. Ada was bemused when the bespectacled brunette swore out loud in a behaviour that was atypical of her.

“Good evening,” Ada said calmly with her hands folded together, ignoring the harmless cellphone that was thrust in her general direction. “Pardon me for the intrusion but please have a seat, we have important matters to discuss.”

Her hazel eyes watched the other woman’s movements carefully. She doubted Hunnigan was armed but it did not hurt to be cautious.

Ingrid’s heart was beating furiously in her chest, trying to reconcile the lost beats the fright caused. Her free hand was clasped to her chest, pushing air out in loud exhales, hedged with vocalization. Her phone was still held out in an accusatory manner before her eyes finally focused on the intruder’s face. Ada. 

“What are you doing here–” her eyes darted to the windows, the doors. “How did you get in here?!” 

She turned the phone towards herself, finger tapping the screen a few times. New alerts awaited her, a few emails and a reminder for a meeting she had in the morning but certainly nothing denoting that there had been a break in.

Her home had been completely outfitted with a state of the art security system. The sensors on the doors and windows were encrypted, safeguarding them from remote scrambling. Around the house were several, strategically placed cameras filming in infrared, ultraviolet and the visible spectrum. There was another set of motion activated sensors near the front and balcony doors. 

Ingrid turned her attention to the dog, sitting quietly at her feet. “You had one job, Skadi.” The husky’s ears drooped slightly and it let out a soft whine. 

If Leon wasn’t missing, Hunnigan’s rapid fire glances at Ada, the house, and her dog would have fit perfectly in some sort of comedy.

The question on how she got in almost made her laugh. Did Ingrid forget that she used to be a spy and getting into establishments stealthily was one of the necessary skills of the trade?

“Canines do possess the ability to recognize the scents of people they’ve met before,” Ada replied dryly as Skasi padded back to her and she reached under the table to give the husky a few pats on the head, conveniently ignoring Ingrid’s first question altogether. 

“You’d think a guard dog would find it suspicious that a previous visitor was sneaking into my house while I wasn’t home and why are you sneaking into my house while I am not home, Ada– I mean, not that you sneaking into my house while I am home would be more acceptable or anything.” Ingrid expelled air quickly from her lungs, clearly frazzled. 

Ada folded her arms once more, giving the other a grave look, “I’m sure you know why I’m here.”

There was another brief staredown between both women before Ada spoke again.

“I don’t require the details of his assignment. Is he well and on this continent at all?”

Chances are, he wasn’t. The DSO had a tendency to deploy him all over the globe but there were still a handful of cases here and there on local soil that needed his expertise.

All Ada needed was just a clue on where her beloved blonde was. Maybe then she could rest easy. Or find him by herself.

Feeling a headache coming on, Ingrid laid her phone down on the table and took a few deep breaths. Inhale through her nose, breathe in until her lungs could hold no more. Hold. Hold just until her chest began to burn then release the air slowly from parted lips. An exercise she had begun working on since picking up yoga to deal with her stress. 

“I told you before. Leon isn’t on a mission.” Her eyes rose to meet Ada’s. “But if you are here and still asking about it then it is safe to conclude that you have not been able to reach him either.”

She turned away from Leon’s wife, moving to a cabinet just above the sink. “Look, I know we have not seen eye to eye in the past and we still have our differences like how you broke into my house but that is besides the point.” 

Ada’s temper nearly flared when the brunette once again insisted that Leon was not on a mission. The ex-spy was sorely tempted to toss his ring on the table to prove Hunnigan wrong but she reined in her emotions. It would be a shame to damage a perfectly good piece of jewellery.

But, there was something in Ingrid’s eyes that made her stop and listen. Sincerity, frustration, and desperation all rolled into one gaze. She kept silent and allowed the other woman to putter around the kitchen. 

Ingrid retrieved two stemmed glasses within the cabinet before pulling out a bottle from the wine rack below the island. She quickly removed the foil seal and fished out a corkscrew from a nearby drawer. A few turns later, the cork lifted quickly from the bottle. 

She poured the first glass just above a quarter full, then a second. Fingers hooked under each glass, Ingrid carried them over to the table, holding out one to Ada as she took a seat opposite her. 

“We both care for Leon. If he had been sent on an assignment and I knew about it, I would let you know. Even if a gag order had been placed, I would have gotten word to you somehow and Leon would be the first person in line pushing me to do so. He wouldn’t want you worrying over him.”

Ada took the preoffered glass but she wasn’t in the mood to drink. Instead, she cradled it between both hands and stared at the effervescence on the surface of the liquid, processing what Ingrid said.

Her words did make sense though. She was a smart woman and had the capability to send an encrypted word to Ada no matter what even if her orders said otherwise.

Ada inhaled a deep breath and reached into her pocket to pull out Leon’s ring. She placed it on the table and began her explanation.

“Leon always leaves this behind whenever he’s sent away. Scared to lose it on the battlefield, I suppose.” She left out how they had a small ritual of having her slide the ring back on his finger whenever he came home.

Ingrid was nodding her head occasionally, absorbing everything Ada was saying. Her words painted an intimate picture, a side of Leon that Ingrid had never thought of before in such detail. Sipping at her wine, she found her mind working feverishly to piece together the fractured, isolated aspects of the greater mystery.

When Ada placed the ring on the table, Ingrid delicately picked it up, turning it over. Pinched between her index and thumb. It caught the fluorescent lights overhead, burnished and polished. She watched her reflection bend and stretch as if made of water.

“I hadn’t known about that. I knew he didn’t wear his ring and assumed it was something like that.” She had honestly always believed Leon liked to uphold his bachelor guise while in the field. 

Ada then placed a watch beside the wedding ring.

“I ordered a set of watches after our wedding. In addition to other features, they come with a tracker that allows us to see where the other is anywhere in the world. A way for me to know if he’s safe without bothering anyone. We always wear them.”

The raven-haired woman sighed and finally took a sip of alcohol, allowing the sweet liquid coat her tongue. It was good.

“I never knew about the watch,” Hunnigan whispered as she polished off half of her glass. A heavy feeling swirled around her gut. It was fear mixed with liquor. She set the glass down on the table, the ring placed gently beside it. Her fingers found their way to the watch.

She examined it with intrigue and interest. The details were right up her alley so to speak. Her attention was brought first to the face. Digital numbers, military time. Current coordinates. Top of the line. What a pricey newlywed gift Ada had picked out. Her espionage days had clearly set her tastes– and form was just as important as fashion. Turning it over in her hands, Ingrid ran her thumb along the back.

It was beautiful, hand stamped initials of their names etched in the back. Probably a custom order or at most a very limited run of this specific make and model.

“Given that his ring is with me, it means he has been deployed.” Ada rasped coldly. “And it seems someone up in his chain of command knew about the tracker. They must have been desperate to keep his assignment off the grid from me and you.”

This was serious. If something happened to Leon, whoever was in charge will pay for it. Preferably via asphyxiation.

Ingrid could only shake her head as her brows knitted with frustration. “Officially, the DSO states that he’s attending a conference. You and I both know that’s not true. I don’t understand why anyone would give him an assignment– or how,” she took a sip of her drink. “Every mission, proposed or rejected goes through me first. Not just with Leon but every DSO agent. I can list off the whereabouts of every agent that has been deployed-”

She stopped herself before she divulged classified data to a civilian. “Leon has officially been grounded indefinitely too, at his request. I’ve not been his support agent since he became a trainer. I even made sure his successor passed with flying colours before we retired Leon from the field. All missions have been rerouted to Da-”

The brunette paused once more and cursed inwardly. She almost revealed more private information. 

Ada merely continued to drink more of her wine, pretending that Ingrid did not attempt to commit a crime exposing state secrets. It was interesting that Sherry Birkin and Helena Harper weren’t spoken of at all. She was under the assumption that all three agents continued to work closely after China. The conference was an obvious lie that even a child could have seen through it. 

However, the mention of Leon having his request honoured brought some comfort to her. Her wish of him leading a less exciting life was granted.

Ingrid stood and moved over to the island, grabbing her phone and opening up to the text messages. She turned the screen towards Ada. It contained message after message, including reminders of their upcoming meetings. All without response.

“I’ve sent him a dozen emails and even went by his office. He couldn’t be on a mission without me knowing about it,” her usual authoritative resonance in her voice slipped as she continued. 

Was it Derek Simmons all over again? Corruption running through their department, a fissure right before her eyes that she missed. Hunnigan sank into her chair again.

“What do you propose we do?”

The idea that someone higher than her– than Leon, pulling strings with her agent sent a wave of righteous indignation through her. 

Ada continued to gaze at the cellphone in front of her, glancing through the numerous unanswered messages. Leon might be a busy person but he always replied with a short text. Something was definitely wrong.

After a few quiet seconds, Ada broke out of her stupor. “You would have to keep digging on your end. There has to be another official document that states his whereabouts.”

Her own hands were tied. Hacking the DSO from the BSAA would be frowned upon and cause a lot of unnecessary drama. Ada drained the rest of her alcohol, “I will just have to hold on to a shred of optimism.”

She wasn’t one for waiting but sometimes that was all that could be done. 

There was something quiet and sad in Ada’s words– or maybe it was just the way she delivered the final line. Defeated perhaps but even beyond that, a hint of desperation. It did nothing to calm Ingrid’s frayed nerves. Bustling just behind her eyes, below her skin. 

She considered her next course of action for a moment. Trying to decide where the next place to look would be. Helena might work. “I’m going to ask Helena. She is stateside right now and could weed out more info.”

Hunnigan was in the midst of drafting a text when her phone chimed loudly. She read over the incoming message. No sooner had she finished reading it that her phone began to ring. An unknown number.

The brunette stood and stepped away from the table, heading over to the balcony doors. “Hunnigan here.”

Ada’s hazel eyes watched Ingrid as she read the text with a pensive look before it was interrupted by a phone call. When Leon’s handler headed outside, Ada had a sinking feeling in her stomach.

Ingrid had no more than just turned the corner before she darted back into the house and spoke hurriedly. 

“Someone just arrived at Havenwood hospital as a John Doe. They performed fingerprints and the results just flagged the DSO database. He’s got Leon’s prints.”

Within a span of a few seconds, Ada went through a roller coaster of emotions. First was dread, followed by relief before it was eventually replaced by confusion. Havenwood was just outside the capital. 

“Why is he not in a DSO medical facility?” 

It was bizarre how their finest agent was now labelled as a John Doe and at a hospital nowhere near his workplace. If the medical care rendered to her husband was inadequate, there would be hell to pay.

Ada got to her feet and gathered Leon’s belongings off the table. She was almost out the door when her phone rang from an unidentified number. Her finger slid across the screen to accept the call as she held the phone to her ear. 

“Is this Mrs. Ada Kennedy, spouse of Mr. Leon Scott Kennedy?” A male voice spoke on the other end and sounded middle-aged. 

“I am, who is this?” Ada furrowed her brows as she looked at Hunnigan.

“A representative from the DSO. As his next of kin, it is our responsibility to inform you that he has been injured and is now receiving treatment at the Neurosurgical ICU in Havenwood Hospital. We request that you keep this information to yourself and enter via the back entrance. Our staff will escort you when you get there.”

The call ended before Ada could fire off any snappy comebacks.

“I have been contacted by the DSO with Leon’s location… It seems I have to enter the hospital by the rear entrance. I need to leave.” 

Without extending the invitation to Hunnigan even though she knew she should have, Ada practically bolted down the driveway and ran to her car.

[ask-a-w]

Absent Mind Chapter 3: Day By Day

AO3

FF.net

Previous chapter: Chapter 2 - Don't Wait Up

Next chapter: Chapter 4 - A Lengthy Conversation

--------------

TUESDAY

Ada awoke in their king-sized bed with a cat pressed up on each side of her waist, providing her some warmth as she watched their little feline chests rise and fall in deep slumber. She gingerly ran her fingers down their backs and both stretched their limbs before eliciting happy purrs. 

She stayed with them for a few minutes before sliding out of bed to get ready for work. Her husband’s aftershave still lingered faintly in the bathroom and she managed to shut down any emotions that threatened to surface. 

The ex-spy just thought of the scent as something environmental and got on with her morning. 

Breakfast was simple, consisting of fruit and a slice of buttered toast. There was no point dirtying the cookware for a single serving of bacon and scrambled eggs. 

Like clockwork, she left the house on the dot after washing the dishes and joined the rush hour traffic. With the radio turned on in the background, she focused on the road and her schedule for the day. There was a report she had to review and several appointments ranging from weaponry to mutations. 

Without thinking too much about it, she had arrived in the parking lot. Ada got out and went past the security gantry, taking the lift to the office, and getting comfortable at her desk. 

It was a fairly ordinary day. 

——

Work had been hectic as usual. Hunnigan was swamped but somewhere in the back of her mind she kept reminding herself to check her personal cellphone for messages from Leon or his wife. It slipped through the cracks, between breaking in a replacement secretary and continuing talks with the private backers, she forgot about her own needs. 

But she did remember to put in a request on Leon’s whereabouts which would normally return a result immediately… Her query remained “pending” for the rest of the day. 

~~~~~~~~

WEDNESDAY

There was a two-day biowarfare symposium in town that required volunteers at the last minute. The BSAA decided to send its non-frontline staff to help out. Unfortunately for Ada, she was one of them. 

Volunteering usually meant grunt work like ushering, registration, and other menial tasks. That was something Ada found to be a waste of her time. You could get college students to do that. She would rather stay at HQ to get her work done. 

But she was no longer an independent agent who had the luxury to be picky nor was she high up the ladder to be able to say no. With a resigned sigh, she trudged over to the meeting room with her fellow co-workers for a briefing and to collect her uniform; a navy blue polo shirt with the BSAA logo emblazoned above her heart along with some plain black pants. It was surprising that they managed to get the right sizes for everyone.

They were ferried by a chartered bus to the venue and based on the chatter, her colleagues were excited to skip two days of work. Ada decided to put on her best customer service oriented persona. Might as well enjoy herself if she had to do this. 

——

Ingrid sent a reminder to Leon to attend a 3pm briefing for the meeting on Friday. It mostly consisted of the code of conduct DSO employees had to display and to remind them that they were not allowed to make any promises of purchase. 

She also informed the replacement secretary to alert her if and when Leon arrived at work. Should he call her through the in-house line, he was to be put directly through. He never called.

No matter, Hunnigan managed to get a response for her query on Leon’s whereabouts. Apparently, he was attending a security conference. That was highly unusual since the content would be way too similar to the meeting with the private backers on Friday. 

Something was up and she would definitely get to the bottom of it. 

~~~~~~~~

THURSDAY

The symposium wasn’t so bad. Given Ada’s experience of being out on the field, her supervisor assigned her a role that was different from the others. She was to welcome and screen for potential recruits at the BSAA booth. 

Talking with others to get desired results was something she excelled in and she relished the challenge.  

There were numerous fresh graduates who were more than eager to prove themselves and ate up the general idea of making the world a better place. Even though they were the easiest to convince, Ada still had to ensure they were good candidates. 

Some of them were too gung-ho to see combat and she had to steer them towards applying for supporting roles. Ada had to persuade them that there were other ways to help without holding a gun. The BSAA had to be careful ever since Edonia. Too many bright youthful souls were lost that day and it took some careful PR to get back into the public’s good graces again. 

Not only was the BSAA looking for young blood, they needed people with experience too. 

“I’m too old for the field,” said a dark blonde woman who was walking by the booth and she waved her hand dismissively before she could be given a brochure. 

Ada smiled gently, “No worries, I just joined the BSAA and I’m not in a combat-facing role. We need accomplished personnel in advisory or trainer positions too.”

The other woman regarded her carefully as Ada remained quiet and continued to exude a genial presence. The ex-spy could tell this potential candidate had battle experience based on how she carried herself. The only giveaway was the slight stiffness in her knee when she moved after standing still. 

The blonde must have completed sizing her up as she eagerly took the brochure and stepped into the booth, directing some questions to Ada. 

In another life, perhaps she could have excelled as a recruiter. Her supervisor seemed satisfied by the number of applications. 

Much to Ada’s surprise, she was approached by other organizations too during her break time. She simply took the pamphlets and politely told them she would need some time to look over the information. 

She did notice a DSO staff making a beeline towards her and she thought she could use the opportunity to ask about Leon’s whereabouts. Before he was halfway to her, he was stopped by a bespectacled middle-aged man who placed a hand on his shoulder and redirected him elsewhere, gesturing animatedly with his hand. 

Ada never saw any DSO personnel in her radius for the rest of the day. That was odd. The encounter lingered in the back of her mind for the rest of the afternoon. 

——

Ingrid arrived at work earlier than usual. At oh- six-hundred hours she was standing inside Leon’s office. It was definitely an upgrade from the drab little broom closet he had previously. A desk, a computer that she was often repairing and outfitting for him, numerous framed certificates of exemplary service and extensive training on the wall, a couple of chairs, and several filing cabinets that seemed bursting to the brim. 

It looked just like any other office space and the only personal touch was a framed photo of his wedding day. Ingrid didn’t think she ever saw either of them smiling so widely before but it did suit them on such a momentous occasion. 

She had logged into his computer, everyone was provided a temporary username and password and he had never bothered to change his and even if he had, she would have been able to let herself in. There were emails accumulating in his inbox, hundreds unread and several from herself noting that he had a meeting on Friday after he had missed yesterday’s briefing. 

Hunnigan idly clicked around but found nothing to indicate he had been there since late Monday afternoon. She took out her cellphone and crafted another message below the previous one that was still unanswered.

[txt] If you are avoiding me you can stop now. I am verging on worrying about you, Leon.

The brunette hit send and left his office with a sigh. 

~~~~~~~

FRIDAY

The end of the work week approached and there was still no word from Leon or any sign that he would be coming home. Ada had to reach out to her DSO contact since Hunnigan had not given her an update. 

The contact said that according to the official records, Leon was attending a conference. 

Ada did not believe it at all. Leaving behind his personal artefacts and taking his gear to a conference was quite a stretch. Plus, the symposium ended yesterday, how many more biosecurity events were there? 

She would have taken matters into her own hands if she didn’t have to catch up with assignments that had piled up while she was away. Furthermore, her inbox was inundated with emails from strangers she met at the symposium. All were full of gratitude for her in helping them get one step closer to their dream job. 

Under normal circumstances, she would have accepted the praise but everything felt like a hollowed victory. Her supervisor mentioned she might expand Ada’s job scope to screening recruits too, given how successful she was at the booth. 

Work kept her preoccupied for the rest of the day and her husband was not on her mind until she reached home. Their two cats greeted her boisterously as always but she missed having Leon to talk to. They could have conversations about anything under the Sun without judgement, something she could not do with her co-workers to maintain professionalism. 

Upon eyeing the calendar that was by the fridge, Ada pursed her lips in thought. They had volunteered for a pet adoption event during the weekend. It would not be right to pull out at the last minute after they had promised to go. Having one less person would still be manageable but two would make things difficult. She would have to make up an excuse for his lack of attendance. 

Her search for Leon would have to wait. He was a resourceful genius in getting himself out of impossible situations, after all. Ada could only keep her fingers crossed that Lady Luck would be with him always. 

——

The meeting had been a series of small disasters. Leon had never missed a meeting when it was important - at least not without informing her that he would be. Ingrid had been crystal clear in her emails to him that it was imperative that he attend this meeting.

Without him there, she had to call in another senior agent and guide him through the business deal. The backers were edgy at first, continuing to ask about Agent Kennedy’s absence. She tried her best to iron out the wrinkles and console the sponsors that he was attending to other matters and would be personally contacting them soon since this project was close to his heart.

They seemed to buy it. It was a lie she sold them but her worries became deeper. A trickle working through rock, a stream. Which could become a raging river if left uncontrolled. 

If she didn’t already have an upcoming weekend trip that was planned months ago, she would have hunkered down at her desk for the rest of Friday night and searched for Leon with every resource at her disposal. 

No news was good news, right?

[ask-a-w]

Absent Mind Chapter 2 - Don't Wait Up

AO3

FF.net

Previous chapter: Chapter 1 - Should've Said No

Next chapter: Chapter 3 - Day By Day

---------------

Ada glanced at Hunnigan’s response and scoffed. Her secrecy was not unexpected. If Leon was indeed sent on a hush-hush assignment, it was logical that no one should know that it even existed at all. But Ada was no ordinary civilian and she was a tad irked that the brunette was following the rule book to a T.

[txt] There’s no need to be coy. Are you not Leon’s field support agent?

Deciding that it would not be productive to continue waiting for a reply as the stew pot simmered downstairs, Ada placed her cell down on the bedside table and took her shower. Might as well get things done instead of idling.

She did not realise that showering was going to be agonising though, as all of Leon’s toiletries were lined up neatly on the bathroom counter, silently mocking her about his absence. Even the scent of his aftershave from this morning still faintly lingered around the sink. 

The raven-haired woman exhaled loudly through her nose at the emotions she was feeling. This would not do. Ada wasn’t a lovesick puppy dog. They were both adults and while they were married, she did not have any right to dictate whatever he did. Being an overprotective helicopter spouse was simply not her style. 

She pumped a heaping amount of lavender body wash to mask the scent of her beloved husband and to soothe her frayed emotions. 

——

Ingrid could not help but feel immense irritation at Ada’s accusation. The implication that she was withholding information out of personal or professional preference was not something she tolerated lightly. 

She had to admit she was not Ada’s biggest fan once upon a time. When Leon initial reports mentioned Ada, Ingrid recalled grilling him on why he did not arrest her on the spot. He was always evasive, citing that her capture was never part of his mission objectives. It did not take a genius to figure out that he had a soft spot for her.

Ingrid did try to talk him out of protecting her and he had always ignored her suggestions. However in due time, she had grown to respect and even, in some way, like Ada once she realised that the mysterious woman wasn’t as nefarious as she was made out to be. They were not BFFs, but she would not outright lie to Ada without just cause.

Pushing up her glasses, Ingrid began to send a flurry of messages one after the other. 

[txt] While I am Leon’s support agent, I am not his personal secretary or babysitter. 

[txt] He is not at the office and he is not out on a mission.

[txt] Therefore, if you want to locate him you are better off messaging him directly.

Setting the phone down and tapping the table impatiently, her eyes remained fixated on the clock, trying to remember her last interaction with Leon. It had been several days earlier when she had politely reminded him of a meeting they both had to attend at the end of the week with some private backers looking to outfit several DSO agents with new gear. 

She turned her attention back to her computer and opened up her inbox. The program in her computer automatically logged messages by importance and relevance. Leon, holding the highest level in both categories would have been at the top but there was nothing. Any supposed mission he was sent on would have her roped in. Sure, there were other field support agents but they’ve worked together like a well-oiled machine over the years, they were almost always paired together unless she was on leave or out sick. 

Still, Ada’s allegation lingered at the back of her mind. She lifted her phone once more and scrolled down to Leon’s number. 

[txt] Your wife seems to be looking for you. Call her. 

——

Ada came out of the shower feeling refreshed, naively hoping for a sliver of good news. However, what she received were irate texts. Ada felt inclined to believe Hunnigan but there was one piece of info that the field support agent did not know. Leon only left his ring behind for assignments and it was quite peculiar that Hunnigan was saying otherwise. Something was not adding up.

Fine, two could play the game. She’ll leave Hunnigan alone for now, let her maintain her strict code of conduct.

When Leon returned in a few days, he would be in for an earful. Without sending a reply, Ada set her phone face down on the bed, and proceeded downstairs for dinner. Since her husband would not be home for a while, she would have to portion out the leftover stew into individual serving containers. She had heated up the entire pot since Leon could eat two to three bowls in one seating. 

She scooped out one bowl for herself as her cats mewed at the pet gate, wanting to get in. Oh, why not. The stove was switched off anyway. Ada got up to unlatch the barrier and both pets happily rubbed her legs in response. They stayed close by as she ate her dinner in solitude. 

The sound of her spoon scraping against the side of the bowl echoed rhythmically throughout the kitchen and she had to switch on the television to provide some white noise in the background. Anything to drown out the silence. 

——

Leon considered himself to be a fairly patient man. He kept quiet during the ride to the private air base, he followed protocol as he idled in the lounge while the aircraft was getting one last inspection, and he kept scanning the entire interior of the plane during takeoff. 

His eyes could only be preoccupied with observing his surroundings. If he let his mind wander, he could only imagine how displeased Ada would be. As much as Leon loved her, he could not afford to be distracted at this moment. Like a switch, he activated work mode pretty easily, pushing aside all personal needs for the sake of the job. 

He betrayed his poker face and heaved a sigh of relief when Reginald slid into the seat across from him. Finally, he would receive the details of his mission after the plane reached cruising altitude. 

“Thank you for agreeing to this on such short notice, Agent Kennedy,” the DSO director greeted him once more and placed a satellite image on the table. One of the buildings was circled in a red marker. Leon had to stop himself from comparing the shade of red to Ada’s lipstick…

“This would be slightly different from your past assignments. There is no damage control needed to be done, neither is it a rescue mission.”

Leon raised an eyebrow. “Infiltration? It isn’t my specialty.” 

While he knew how not to be seen or caught, there were others who could surpass him easily. If Ada was ever interested, she would have excelled at this position. 

Damn, he really ought to stop thinking about her. So many things in this mission was reminding him of his spouse, one way or another. 

“You sell yourself short, Leon. You’ve been through occasions where you needed to employ stealth and came out relatively unscathed,” Reginald said reassuringly before he pointed to the target. “Your mission is to acquire files from the server room and wipe it clean. The data contains schematics for a new potential weapon.”

Reginald tapped the map with his finger before clenching it into a fist, it looked like he was attempting to get his frustration under control. “The previous times we did this by the book, our agents turned up empty-handed. It is important we do not lose this time,” he stared right into Leon’s blue-grey eyes and the blonde knew the stakes were high. 

Leon glanced down to study the heavily-forested topography, already formulating a plan of entry using one of the smaller roads in the South. 

A few hours later, the plane landed and they disembarked in yet another private hangar. Leon spotted a jeep and a sleek looking car close by. He assumed the former was for him to utilise since he had to traverse through rough terrain. 

Before he could head towards the vehicle, he was tapped on the shoulder and he turned towards the director who was typing something on his cell before putting it away. The blonde’s phone buzzed and he saw a set of coordinates on the screen. 

“After you’ve completed your objective, head to this location and press 0.”

Leon nodded and was then presented a set of jeep keys by the older man. 

“While you’re off doing this, I will be planting a bait to plug the leak. Godspeed, Agent Kennedy,” Reginald held his hand out and Leon shook it. 

“Likewise, Director Martin.”

[ask-a-w]

Absent Mind Chapter 1 - Should've Said No

You all voted for me to write Absent Mind so here we go!

Summary: Leon Kennedy goes on a top secret mission which neither his handler Ingrid Hunnigan nor his wife Ada Wong knows about and he returns from said mission with amnesia. (Post-RE6 AU)

AO3 FF.net

Next chapter: Chapter 2 - Don't Wait Up

------

This was not how Leon imagined he would spend his afternoon, hiding in the corner of his office and then pressing a gun into his superior’s back. 

He was looking through the agenda for a meeting scheduled at the end of the week when he heard the mechanism for the hidden entrance to his office begin to activate. 

The blonde only had a few seconds to react and he swiftly padded over to the blind spot off to the side and readied his weapon. Steadying his breathing, he slowed his heart rate and waited for the intruder to make his appearance as the bookshelf rolled to a stop. 

A slightly older, bespectacled man stepped into view and Leon could see strands of grey hairs speckled on the side of his temple. He carried himself confidently and looked a little familiar but Leon couldn’t quite remember where he had seen his face before. The stranger’s eyes were doing a slow sweep across the room from right to left. Taking no chances, Leon released the safety with an audible click and laid the end of his pistol next to the man’s left shoulder blade. “You have one minute to explain yourself.”

The man sighed before slowly raising his arms, “I need your help, Agent Kennedy.”

Leon cocked an eyebrow, “You could have made an appointment or gone through the main door instead of sneaking into my office.”

“I had to be discreet. Do you mind lowering your weapon so we can talk like gentlemen?” 

“And do you mind showing your ID?” Leon retorted. 

“I knew I could count on you,” the man replied proudly before raising his staff card and resting his thumb on his portrait. The border of the card flashed green after a second which signalled he was indeed an employee. Leon managed to catch a glimpse of his name, ‘Reginald Martin’. It still did not ring a bell. 

Satisfied with the man’s identity, the blonde engaged the safety and lowered his gun, returning to his seat. “How can I help, Mr. Martin?” He gestured towards the chair in front of his desk but his colleague opted to remain standing. 

“I need you to go on a mission.”

“First, Ingrid Hunnigan is the field support agent who assigns missions to me. Second, you’re a few months too late. I’ve been grounded from missions since the start of the year.”

Reginald laughed, “I know. I signed off on your request.”

Leon could only stare at the director of the DSO with a dumbstruck expression. So that’s why he had looked so familiar, the director was always present for major meetings and events but mostly kept to himself, allowing his subordinates to speak. He swallowed nervously before finding his words. “I’m sure there are other capable agents who could take on this assignment. I might be rusty.”

“On the contrary, what you’ve demonstrated so far shows that you’re still as sharp as ever.”

“That doesn’t explain why my fellow agents aren’t able to handle this,” Leon said carefully. 

“As I said, I had to be discreet.” Reginald finally took a seat and began to whisper, “I believe I have a leak. You’re the perfect candidate as you have been off the field. No one would be wiser.”

“My peers and my wife would be quite concerned by my sudden disappearance.”

Reginald grew impatient, “That can be easily explained away.” He leaned in closer towards the desk. “I have a short window of time to act, Agent Kennedy, before the leaker catches wind of my plans. Listen carefully…”

——

Leon was in a hurry as he scrambled to gather his gear at home. He wished he could leave Ada a note, but he was under strict orders to keep his mission top secret. No one was to know where he had gone, not even his wife. He was not sure what the mission really entailed anyway, other than he had to go do it ASAP. Reginald had kept things vague during his briefing. 

The blonde would have a lot of explaining to do when he got back from it. All he had time for was to give his cats Cobalt and Ebony each a quick pat goodbye. “See you two in a few days,” he told the felines. “Be good to mommy.” 

When he had everything he thought he would need, Leon headed right out the door, to his director’s car, and soon was being driven off. 

He had left behind two things; his watch and his wedding ring, which Leon would rather not lose in a foreign war zone or a self-destructing lab. Normally he would have brought the watch, but his orders were not to bring any sort of device that could be tracked. 

The watch given to him was a wedding gift by Ada and had GPS capabilities, so she could find him in case something happened. The agent knew leaving it would upset Ada, but the orders were specific. Whatever the assignment was, Leon hoped it was as damn important as his superior made it out to be. He loathed leaving Ada in the dark like this.

——

Returning home after an uneventful day at work, Ada had just stepped out of her heels before she turned towards the nearest shelf with her arms outstretched. A black kitten leapt into her embrace a moment later. It was a daily ritual for Ebony to perch on the shelf and jump onto her owner.

The raven-haired woman gave the kitten an affectionate scratch on the head and set her cat down on the floor. Ebony scampered off and Cobalt then came to her, meowing and rubbing her legs. “It’s good to see you too,” Ada cooed at the ginger feline as she ran her hand down the length of its body. Cobalt responded by arching his back and purring loudly.

Ada stood up and headed to the kitchen, noting that it was still unoccupied. She had spotted her husband’s Cadillac in the garage and surmised he was exercising in their backyard gym. It was something he did after work but he would have been marinating a slab of meat or warming up the oven to save on meal prep time. 

No matter, it probably slipped his mind. She proceeded to wash her hands and make dinner. They would be having some leftover stew for tonight. The pot was bubbling a few minutes later and after setting the heat to simmer, Ada left to take a quick shower. 

Her blood ran cold upon entering the master bedroom. There, lying atop a chest of drawers were Leon’s ring and watch. The ring was not an unfamiliar sight, he always left it behind whenever he was sent on missions. It was the watch that set off alarm bells in her head. No matter where her husband went, he always wore his watch and so did she. That was the promise they made to each other when she gifted the device to him. It wasn’t that she distrusted him, it was a backup plan just in case things went awry. 

After all, both of them had a history of going off the grid. It was not something they would want a repeat of in a marriage.

Ada inhaled a deep breath to steel herself. Immediately, her jittery mind was a picture of serenity.

It is always important to remain calm and collected, even in the most extreme situations.

The mantra that was drilled into her head years ago surfaced once more.

There had to be an explanation for this. For him to leave his car and suddenly be sent on an assignment after months of being in the office, it had to be urgent. The only person who knew Leon’s whereabouts was his trusty operations support agent. Ada fired off a text to Hunnigan.

[txt] Where is he deployed to this time?

——

The end of a workday was one Ingrid always looked forward to. It meant that the office finally became quiet as fellow agents and staff filed out of the building like ants, getting into their cars and scattering into various directions during rush hour. 

She stood and walked over to the window, closing the blinds to cut off the harsh glare of the setting sun. There were still some things she had to tend to and the silence was a much-needed respite from her usually hectic day. When she was not on field support, her inbox and phone continuously rang non-stop, filled with queries from co-workers who needed advice immediately. Paperwork usually took a backseat whenever she needed to guide her colleagues.  

Plus, if she waited an hour, the gridlock would have eased up by then and shortened her commute. Ingrid was halfway through reading a referral form for one of the newest DSO agents when her phone chimed in three melodious tones. She ignored it for a brief moment before registering that the tune was one she set for her personal cellphone. 

Ingrid hoped it wasn’t yet another matchmaking attempt by her mother. She glanced over at the screen and saw she had a message from WONG-KENNEDY, ADA before it faded to black. They seldom texted each other and she doubted Leon’s wife was casually saying hi. 

Coloured curious, she picked up her phone and unlocked it to read the message. A puzzled expression appeared on her face as she flicked her eyes upwards, lost in thought. Did she see Leon today? She couldn’t recall. Either way, she was not certain what Ada could be talking about. 

[txt] I’m not sure what you mean. 

[ask-a-w]

Summary of my fic ideas that I would like to write but realistically, I can’t write all of them at once.

So please, vote for what you’d like to read!

1. Another Lifetime

Realising the gravity of Albert Wesker’s plans at the end of the Spain incident in 2004, Ada Wong successfully defects to the government. With Leon vouching for her, it was only natural their relationship was taken to the next level.

Now, if they could be spared a moment of peace to go on a honeymoon instead of being sent into the field once more… (Post-RE4 AU)

2. Absent Mind

Leon Kennedy goes on a top secret mission which neither his handler Ingrid Hunnigan nor his wife Ada Wong knows about and he returns from said mission with amnesia. (Post-RE6 AU)

3. Sorrows

After Leon Kennedy loses his team to a car bomb and being forced to take personal time off, he returns to his matrimonial home and drowns his sorrows. His wife Ada has to find a way to comfort him. (Vendetta AU)

4. Life in the RCPD

Having come to a truce after clashing with each other during their training days at Republic City Police Academy, rookie cops Leon Kennedy and Ada Wong find themselves partnered up once more as they learn how to survive the force together. (Crossover AU with The Legend of Korra universe)

5. Welcome to Ashforjd

Knight Kennedy and Mage Wong have been tasked by King Graham to investigate rumours of undead in the small town of Ashfjord. (Fantasy AU)

[ask-a-w]

I got the Infinite Darkness graphic novel.

Mild spoilers below.

The comic is set in Pittsburgh and takes place over a few days.

It’s quite fast paced. Leon is zipping everywhere throughout the city to solve the mystery/crime that I doubt he’s sleeping at all. Not much characterisation for him, I’m afraid. Just a typical action hero, as usual. Zero love interests, he’s in complete work mode for the entire comic.

I would say that if the Raccoon City Incident did not happen, Leon would make a fairly good detective as he discovers answers pretty quickly!

Leon uses a Motorola Razr-style phone. He’s on his phone a lot in this comic.

There is one panel where Leon uses a silenced pistol and we don’t see said silencer again. We don’t see him use silencers in the games either.

We also don’t see Leon drinking, eating or resting/sleeping in this comic. Heck, we don’t even know if he even has a hotel room because we don’t see him have any downtime.

One improvement from Degeneration is that the government agencies/personnel in this comic appear to respect Leon and take his advice. He calls them and they get shit done. I dunno why but I was under the impression they wouldn’t know who he is and would doubt him but nope, Leon’s name is held in high regard.

Comic ends with a helicopter picking him up to go to the White House as shown in the Netflix Infinite Darkness miniseries.

The art style is not for me, it makes Leon too lanky. And his face looks odd in some panels.

I was quite amused when more of his chest got exposed as the story progresses. At first you only see just a bit of his collarbone at the start of the comic but at the end, his upper pectorals are almost revealed. It’s like he got so fed up with the Pittsburgh case that he loosened a couple of buttons on his shirt. Too bad we don’t see him shirtless or suffering from clothing damage.

[ask-a-w]

The Uniqlo here is selling Capcom 40th Anniversary shirts.

I like seeing RE4 Leon, RE8 Chris, RE1 Jill in this. Can’t tell if that is Ada in the top right corner.

Surprisingly, no Claire. Not sure why.