Chapter Text
‘It is both a blessing,
And a curse
Feeling everything
So very deeply.’
Cannes, France
4:15 CET
Tuesday
There was nothing like spending the day in the hotel spa, after a relaxed session of tranquility in the steam room, followed by a well earned body massage from a woman who possessed the skills of a professional deserving way more income than she already earned, Leon offered a generous tip of 100 euros after exiting the massage room. Now, standing in the luxurious lobby of the five star Hôtel plaza, Leon exhales loudly, gently rubbing his sweaty neck which was now clear from the pressure, tension and nots trapped in for god knows how long.
He wore kaki shorts, black Ralph Lauren sandles, and a blank tank top which effortlessly displayed his muscles and toned body. The sort of clothing appropriate for the 40 degrees heat suffocating him since his arrival in the south of France.
He proceeds to the exit, stepping outside into the warm and sunny air of Cannes. The sun glistened in the crystal blue sky, hitting his freshly scrubbed and exfoliated face, it felt good. His mind, body and soul deserved this more than anything, after the traumatic and chaotic experiences his job considered of, troubling him deeply throughout the years, a vacation far away from it all was needed. It was a cure to his recovery and so far, he was doing better than expected.
After spending a few minutes reflecting over his thoughts on his well being, Leon takes in his surroundings, it was surprisingly not so busy. Tourists and civilians walked briskly alongside the road, most of them were couples on their honeymoon heading to the beach in their swimwears. Leon chuckles, wondering why on earth a single and handsome man like himself, flew solo during his vacations.
"You know why." He mutters, running a hand through his dirty blonde bangs. His heart sinks at the thought but he ignores it.
As Leon makes his way to the beach, he admires and embraces the scenery ahead of him. Stunning mountains surrounding the bay represented a place in heaven, and this was the closest to heaven he was ever going to get. Stepping onto the soft white sand, seagulls chirped above him, children giggled running away from their family members, and many individuals sunbathed in the nude.
Leon knew France had nude beaches but it caught him off guard and a little out of his comfort zone. He wasn't one to flaunt his body in public full of strangers, and wondered how people were so comfortable doing so. Shaking his head, hoping nobody noticed his stares, Leon advanced to the turquoise water, which sparkled. It was beautifully transparent.
A Caucasian woman a few meters ahead of him catches his eye, she stood in the brisk water which covered her lower body up till her flat stomach. She was a brunette, who wore a large beige hat and a pink bikini, taking pictures of the views encircling her, then she proceeds to turn to the side, locking eyes with Leon already looking at her.
Too late to look away now, she smiles at him.
"You're too sexy to be standing there. Come over here!" The woman yells in a British accent, catching him off guard.
"How did you know I spoke English?" He asks stunned, ignoring the compliment and moves towards her in the water but stops, letting it reach his knees. Any further, his shorts will get wet.
Leon notices the canon camera she held in her hands, her pink manicured nails on display. No wait, they were red. He couldn't see, the sun was hitting his eyes.
"You look American. I'm very familiar with the country and it's inhabitants." The British woman answers in a friendly tone, or was it a flirty tone?
Definitely flirty.
Leon was in no mood to flirt back, a harmless and friendly conversation was all he hoped for. She was literally undressing him with her eyes, not that he had much on. Attracting the attention of the opposite sex was all too familiar, it was fun but also irritating at the same time.
"Are you a photographer?" He blurts out, hoping he was right. The British woman did portray the image of a typical photographer travelling around diffferent continents, and ‘living life.’
"Yes, its more of a hobby though, I get hired here and there...whatever works out."
She walks closer to Leon, the water drifts away from her, exposing her body. Her legs fully on show now.
"Do you travel a lot?" He asks averting his gaze from her, she was being tempting, but Leon disregarded it.
A one night stand wasn't on his list. Couldn't it ever just be innocent? He mentally curses at himself for being a handsome bastard.
Losing interest, Leon stares ahead of him, completely forgetting about the attractive British woman standing a few feet away, watching the American curiously. Maybe she would walk away.
"So you asked if a travel a lot?" Leon jumps at her sudden voice, breaking the awkward silence.
"Yeah, sorry. You were saying?"
Too respectful to blank her, he places both hands on his hips, slightly embarrassed from zoning out.
Hope she doesn’t think I’m a fool.
Maybe she did but he was too handsome to walk away from. Her eyes and body language made this very clear.
"This photography thing is just for fun, I like to create collages of places I visit and not to mention sexy tourists I meet along the way." She winks, causing Leon to shift his gaze away once again, completely unfazed.
Were all British women like this? She was trying way too hard.
Leon sighs, running a hand through his sweaty bangs.
He needed a drink.
Whilst lingering on his thoughts, Leon's mind was brought back to the present as he watches the woman walk past him, who's facial expression changed from hope to disappointment. She reaches for her belongings from the ground, placing them inside her Louis Vuitton bag.
She got the hint, good.
Although a friendly drink with her wouldn't be so bad. All she wanted was a little attention. Guilt washed over him, turning down another woman led to spending the evening alone, again. So he did what he hasn't done in months, years even.
"Care to join me for a drink?"
The woman's face lights up, her smile stretching wildly making Leon grin.
Instead of answering his question, she approaches him swaying her hips. She unexpectedly takes Leon's hand in a smooth manner, and guides him further into the warm, magystic water.
"Let's go for a swim first."
Surprised at her response, Leon smirks, removing his tank top, and sandles, tossing them onto the sand. The woman laughs and runs ahead, splattering water with Leon on her trail.
***
Hôtel Plaza
Penthouse Suite
8:15 CET
This wasn't what Leon expected. After spending a fun day out at the beach, losing count on how many swimming races he won against Claudia, who was surprisingly a terrible swimmer. Leon however gave her credit for the confidence she displayed, subsequently embarrassing herself numerous times from nearly drowning. So they were required to swim back to the shore, where they sat from exhaustion and thirst, treasuring the view of the brilliantly red and orange sun setting in the breathtaking distance. Neither spoke a word, Claudia surprisingly gave up on her flirting and predatory stares, which Leon appreciated. On their way back to Leon's hotel, Claudia seemed to completely change her demeanour.
“The offer still stands" Leon reminds her.
She seemed on edge, eager to attend some business. Everything felt bizarre all of a sudden. Claudia wraps a white towel around her waist, and dries her hair with the other.
"I'd love to but I have to shower, clean myself up."
What she really meant was: 'Not right now, some other time'.
So when he decides to offer a hospitable evening out to a woman, he loses that chance. All he wished for was a drink with good company.
Great. The universe wasn't being cooperative with him at the moment.
He wanted to look up at the sky and give it the middle finger but it was too pretty insult at.
Anyway, Leon understood the reason for her polite decline. Maybe this was karma, but now wasn’t the time to sulk.
Claudia then grabs a pen and paper from her bag, scribbling down what looked like a number.
"If you ever wanna link up again."
No I don’t.
What did these women ever want? Could it ever be simple?
He glances at the door number of her room, and name of the hotel she currently accommodated.
"Thanks, take care of yourself Claudia."
What a let down, everything was going so well.
Leon smiles, masking his annoyance, with the decision of throwing the piece of paper with her details into the bin.
She flashes a charming smile and lingers for a few seconds, but then turns to walk away giving him one last view of what he could possibly miss. Leon shakes his head, she was something else.
"Women."
Now back in his hotel room, freshly showered, and topless, Leon opens the glass balcony doors, staring into the city of Cannes located on the French Riviera. Known for the association accompanied by the rich and famous, its luxurious hotels, restaurants, and festivals. The city at night was absolutely stunning.
With a glass of bourbon in his hand, Leon leans against the metal railing, and scans the magnificent paronamic view.
Peace.
Something that Leon found difficult to hold onto in the early years, he was finally grateful to experience such. The days we're getting better, maybe a longer stay would benefit his mental health.
He pondered on his thoughts, feeling the fatigue taking over his body. Gulping the rest of his drink, Leon walks back inside, straight onto the king sized bed, falling flat on his face. Suddenly sensing weakness in his legs from his intense physical exercice at the beach. Too tired to remove his shorts, Leon's eyelids felt heavier and heavier.
"You really shouldn’t leave your doors open Kennedy."
Immediately recognising the familiar sultry voice, Leon's senses on full alert, he opens his eyes. Tiredness suddenly vanishing from his body, he did not bother to move or turn around.
Leon felt her presence radiating through him. How did he not hear her walk in? This was sloppy for a government agent, highly trained to respond to intruders trespassing.
The thing is, when it came to Ada Wong, she was no intruder or enemy to Leon. When she clearly is supposed to be. Too bad his heart said otherwise. Was it a mistake to love the enemy? Who knows but he couldn’t stop.
He breathes deep into the duvet wishing he could escape this, escape her.
"I know you're awake. Turn around." She orders, in that intoxicating voice.
Leon was one hundred percent sure she casted a spell on him from the moment they met. She did as she pleased, got what she wanted, and he let her. Time and time again.
He slightly shifts from his position, and places both hands on the bed to pull himself up, feeling his heart beat faster.
Ignore it. Ignore it.
Leon twirls his full body to sit up on the bed, placing both hands on his knees. His gaze locking with hers.
Beautiful but deadly. Sexy but lethal.
There stood Ada Wong, looking superior to everything and everyone around her, the definition of a femme fatale.
As always, the typical signature smirk displayed perfectly on that gorgeous face, her short raven hair was the same, strands of her bangs settled nicely on her forehead, almost touching her eyes. Ada’s posture displayed power and mystery, her delicate and slim arms folded across her chest. A gold plated necklace sat nicely around her long neck. Leon's eyes trailed down to her black tight Prada dress showing off her curves and lean figure down to her long legs capable of snapping a person’s neck in less than a second. She wore minimal makeup, the woman didn't even age, her flawless skin was glowing, like a goddess. Her dark red lipstick stood out, almost calling him to taste them.
Stop it.
Getting lost in her again, Leon sits up straighter and finally speaks.
"Ada." He utters, just barely, to the only woman who literally held his heart in her hands.
She stood across from him, clueless of the constant nights and days Leon spent dwelling over her, missing her, wanting her, so fucking bad and it angered him.
"I would ask what brought you here but I'm kind of tired of asking the same question every time I see you. So, tell me what it is you want."
Letting his ego take over, Leon waits for her sarcastic answer. Ada, still standing in the same high and paramount stance, smirks at him.
"Are you saying you're not happy to see me?"
Leon chuckles, so the game begins.
"Not really, I was doing okay, until you showed up. I wanted peace, not a headache." He lies, through his teeth.
Although, it wasn't his head that suffered from aches, but his heart. Leon's pride did not allow himself to tell her that. He felt aggravated for caring and falling in love with a woman who dismissed anything that required feelings and emotions. Thus, this was the reason why heart to heart conversations never ignited during their encounters. Leon craved it. Ada simply avoided it. There was no way around to expose her human emotions, was she even human? Someone as cold as her left him wondering, and concerned.
Despite this, there was a teeny-tiny part of him believing that Ada felt the same way. Their nights of passion and lust expressed between both parties enunciated exactly what he needed to know. Even if he was wrong, Leon held onto this hope. Maybe one day she'll admit her true feelings to him. This is part of the reason why he bottled his own, it had to come from her too. Desiring this toxic relationship was destroying him, but he couldn't stop.
"You're lying."
She breaks Leon's attention away from his thoughts, back onto her, reading him like a book.
Just great.
Did he enjoy the cat and mouse game?
Maybe he did, because right now, Leon watches Ada slowly stroll towards him, her black Jimmy Choo stiletto heels softly clicked against the pine floorboards, their eyes never left each other.
They were in dangerous territory.
Now standing inches away from him, Ada lightly grabs a hold of Leon's unshaven chin, and raises his head up to face hers.
"You're lying." She repeats, with a tone daring him to prove her wrong.
Leon stays silent, unaware of her next move.
Don’t give in.
Her perfect red painted fingernail trails down the side of his sharp jawline, his heart hammered in his chest. Ada's touch burned him, every touch scarred him.
Snap out of it.
To save himself from torment and misery, Leon tries to move away from her but the woman in red was hypnotising, alurring, and mesmerising.
She’s bad for you.
It was impossible, his mind screamed at him to dismiss her seductive temptations, but how could he when his heart belonged to her?
Now fully straddling him, Leon doesn't push her off, but was rather tempted to grab her firm back to bring her closer. Leon refrains from doing so and closes both hands into fists resting them on the bed. Sweat trickled down his bare torso.
The tension between them grew thicker, practically galvanizing, electric. The two had a dynamic and undeniable chemistry. Leon gulps and drinks her in, letting his eyes fixate on her lips, would he be cured or poisoned by her this time? Either way, he didn’t care. He was addicted to her.
Go on. Do whatever you have to do and leave.
Now staring into her hypnotising, almond shaped eyes, Ada crashes her lips into his, making Leon groan. He savours her lips wistfully, and absorbs the taste of her cherry flavoured lipstick. Her breath smelt of strong mint. His of alcohol. An unlikely combination put together, exactly what they were. Leon deepens the kiss, as Ada's hands slides in his hair, pulling him roughly towards her, reminding him who’s in control. Leon gladly follows. It had been too long. His large hands move to grab her curvy back, pulling her body closer, fearful to let her slip away again.
On the spur of the moment, Ada swiftly breaks the heated kiss, her eyes locking with a frustrated and confused Leon. Her hands now trailing to the side of his face, observing him whilst Leon still held onto her back. Silence overtakes the room. Neither spoke for a few seconds.
"Why me?"
She asks suddenly, portraying the same emotionless mask, and watches Leon's face change expression in an instant. He stops breathing and stares at her. Ada literally took his breath away. Of course he couldn't reveal the real answer to her question. It would ruin everything between them. He closes his eyes for a moment, why her?
Because, Leon realised it’s always been Ada when he looks for her in other girls faces. Yep, it was obsession.
Bite me.
"They're not you." He answers truthfully, hiding the hurt in his voice.
Wasn't it obvious?
She expresses a smirk, this thrilled Ada, knowing that she had him wrapped around her finger.
Wait, she was messing with him. Damn her. He let his guard down and almost confessed his true feelings. It was all a game to her, toying with him.
Nonetheless, whatever they had was enough. See? He couldn’t make his mind up. He wanted more. But, he’d rather suffer treacherous pain than to lose her forever.
Ada winks at him, she then uses a finger to wipe her smudged lipstick from Leon's lips with her saliva. Without thinking, he licks his lips to taste and savour her touch, causing Ada to grin.
"You can't get enough of me, can you?"
She was loving this, teasing Leon was what made their relationship so amusing and fun. His brows furrowed in annoyance, deciding to answer her in silence.
"One more thing."
Still straddling him, she leans closer to whisper in his ear.
"Duck."
*POP POP POP*
Silenced gunshots erupt above them, Leon being the protector that he is, grabs a hold of Ada, sending them both flying onto the floor.
Crash landing together, Ada slips out of his grasp like a snake whilst Leon rapidly crawls towards the bed to take cover.
Expensive furniture and glass shattered around the room, unable to hear anything except the multiple rapid gunshot sounds. Leon crawls towards the dresser, remembering his Glock 22 safely tucked away. He turns back and spots Ada taking cover behind the wall, holding her Beretta in hand. She was full of surprises, because he never felt a hint of her piece whilst she sat on his lap. But then again, Ada was always dangerously armed. He swore he saw her smiling. Was she enjoying this?
"Just what the hell was that!?" He yells in anger, grabbing his Glock to insert it's loaded magazine, turning off the safety.
"Are you gonna ask questions or get out of here alive?"
From the look on her face, Ada stayed calm, cool and collected. Like she always did whenever chaos surrounded her.
"You knew this was going to happen didn't you?" He shouts from across the room, with a hint of betrayal in his voice.
"This was all you wasn't it!?"
Leon's blood boils, his face turning red from the rage. Staying low, his eyes still watching the woman in red who's attention focused on the threat. The reason why she came here in the first place. There was no time for interrogations. Luckily, the shooting came to an end, so the coast was clear.
"I'll take care of the shooter. Just focus on getting out of here."
Still dismissing his questions, Leon grits his teeth in frustration. His grip tightens on the gun.
"No, you're not leaving without giving me an answer!"
Leon stands and sprints across the room towards Ada, who was already halfway out of the balcony. It took every strength and power to reach her in time and grab a hold of her slim arm, twisting it behind her back. Ada gasps, and slides away from his strong grip, stepping around him. She kicks her heel on the back of his knee with full force, watching it buckle. Feeling like a knife just entered his leg, Leon loses his balance and falls, landing on his knees.
"Stop fighting back!" He yells, standing up again.
Leon turns and catches a sight of Ada aiming her grapple gun into the air, her back turned to him so he charges for a takedown. Too quick for him, Ada pivots her foot, moving away from his takedown in a swift motion, and then strikes her Beretta with blunt force right onto his neck, watching him stumble straight onto the ground.
"Stand down Leon." She warns, hearing him groan in pain from the strict blow, stopping herself for causing any more severe damage.
Leon rubs his neck, head facing the floor.
Did she just kick his ass?
His ego and pride heavily bruised, Leon slowly turns his head up to face Ada pointing her gun at him. Again.
She looked sexy. Threatening but sexy. Damn her. Being in love with the world's most wanted spy was eating him alive.
Get a grip and take her down.
"Not until you tell me what the hell is going on." His voice croaks, whilst his eyes shot daggers at her.
"Some other time. You need to leave before you catch unwanted attention." Her tone suggested seriousness and demand.
That coy smile was still plastered on her beautiful face, enjoying the whole commotion in front of her.
"Who did you piss off Ada? You want my help to clean up your mess again?" He asks bitterly, refusing to take part.
Did he even have a choice?
"You’re cute when you’re angry."
Ada smiles and then glances outside into the cool night, using her free hand to flick strands of her bangs away from her eyes. She turns back to look at him.
"They're not here for me."
Leon's eyes widen at her statement. He was a target? Was it a lie? Ada was a spy. An enemy. A master at manipulation. Yet, he never ever doubted her trust. How many times did she save his life? And here she was, doing it again.
"That's why you came." He looks at her in defeat, now suddenly feeling bad for his behaviour towards her.
"Are you going to let me go?"
With her gun still pointing at him, unsure of his next move, Ada slowly takes a step back towards the balcony, eyes still trained on him. Leon slowly stands, holding his balance in place.
"Ada-"
"Don't even try it."
Warning him again, she retraces her steps towards Leon and places her gun back onto the holster attached onto her left thigh.
"I beat you up once, don't make me do it again."
A master of seduction, now was the time to use her tools. She inches closer to him, lightly placing both hands on his tense shoulders. Leon's breathing immediately calms down, his physical pain suddenly vanishing at her touch and nearness.
"Just tell-"
Ada interupts his words by sealing his mouth with her own, their eyes automatically closing. As much as she enjoyed running her tongue with his, Ada opens her eyes, there was no time.
He brought this on himself.
Ada brings her knee up and forcefully connects it into Leon's stomach, causing him to break away, but her hold on his shoulders tightens, bringing her leg up to kick him in his groin, hard. Leon yells in agony, unable to process the throbbing pain. He almost vomits as he struggles to get himself together. Without delay, Ada jogs back to the balcony doors like a Cheshire Cat, aiming her hook shot into the air. She pulls the trigger as the cord latched itself onto a hard surface in an instant. The grappling gun instantaneously drags her into the distance, and the last thing Leon witnessed were her long legs disappearing from his view, saying his last words to this temporary farewell.
"You're gonna be the death of me one day."
****