Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Strangers in the Dark
Chris cursed loudly. The electricity had flickered and gone out, pitching the room around him in total blackness. His team had been separated and he had fought his way through multiple corridors, past enough undead and other less savory creatures to keep his nightmares well-stocked for a while. He was almost out of ammo, but still had his knife. He had tried to contact the other members of his team but had only gotten static. Just great. They had found this underground Umbrella installation through a tip. Some really fucked up experiments were going on down here. Financed by some whacko named Spencer who had conveniently disappeared from public radar a few months ago. Now he sat alone in the dark, probably surrounded by the monsters that already had taken apart Joseph, a kind man and good friend who had deserved better than ending up as a bloody mess on the floor. Which was unfortunately a possible future for himself if he didn’t keep his wits about him. He had some scrapes and bruises, and he felt blood drying on his forehead from an earlier bout with some …thing that might have been human at some point. Still, he was lucky up to now. Besides losing Joseph, he knew damn well from previous missions what a bite from infected BOWs would mean.
He felt along the wall, trying to keep his ears out for any noise in the dark. He caught movement to his left, his senses sharpened by the unsettling situation. A pair of red eyes were peering at him in the darkness. He trained his weapon on the sight, but hesitated firing. He couldn’t afford wasting any rounds and the creature before him had not outright attacked him. Most of the human test subjects that had been transformed into horrors in the rooms beyond these tunnels had had little choice and if the being before him had any humanity remaining, he would not destroy it unless necessary.
“Stay back or I will shoot.” He kept his voice steady hoping the other would heed the warning. A chuckling sound emanated from a different direction, much closer to him. Shit, how had the thing moved so fast? He lowered his gun, realizing it would be of less use than the knife based on the speed with which the creature had advanced on him. He withdrew his knife, holstering the gun for later (if there was a later) use, trying to recapture the two red orbs. He startled when warm breath touched his ear and a tongue snaked along his neck. He forced himself to remain still, fully aware of the teeth by his soft flesh. The creature was not a zombie or he would have been bitten already. Using his knife now would result in a struggle he was not likely to win with the mouth already this close and him at a clear disadvantage due to his lack of vision in the complete darkness. He felt the thing press its face into his armpit, taking in his smell, then felt a lick over some of the dried-up blood on the face. He cursed softly and instinctively pushed the other away. “Don’t do that, dude.”
Expecting retaliation, he was surprised to hear a soft chuckle again. When he had pushed it off him, he had felt naked skin. As far as he was able to tell it was human skin tissue, not decaying rotting flesh or the inside out twisted musculature of those licker things they had encountered when Joseph had still been alive. He tried to talk to it. “Can you understand me? My name is Chris.” He paused. There was no reply, but he could see the glowing eyes continuing to follow him. He decided to prattle on, hoping it was working in his favor. “I was separated from my team. Do you…need help?”
He lost sight of the eyes again, but he was less surprised this time when the hot breath resurfaced in front of him. Close, very close. It was unnerving not to be able to see anything, but there was zero light this far down. He could only feel the closeness of the other by the warmth of the breath reaching him. When it opened its eyes they were only a couple inches away from his own. Other than the unnatural color they were definitely human. The intense gaze seemed to appraise him. It didn’t lick him again. He wished he could determine a gender as he felt foolish calling it “it” as there was intelligence in those eyes. Whatever this was, it was not a monster stalking the halls. Well, at least it was the most human monster he had encountered thus far.
Whatever the other being was looking for, it had seemed to make a decision. That’s when things went to hell. A screech filled the space before him and the red eyes darted away in a blink. In that precise moment the emergency lights miraculously flickered on. The subdued amber glow exposed another nightmare scene. It was hard to recognize the human elements in the thing before him that was covered in claws and teeth emanating from multiple points of a grotesquely misshapen body. The only thing separating himself from a swift death by said monstrosity was a definitely human male form displaying not just superhuman speed, but apparently also superhuman strength and healing ability as the naked body fearlessly attacked and tore apart the nightmare creature. In mere moments the claws and teeth were part of chunks of meat steaming on the ground with the head tossed to the side. Chris retched, but kept it together. He stared at his now blood-covered savior whose wounds were mending before his eyes.
Chris took in the naked, muscled body and light hair that fell to his shoulders. The man had an unnatural beauty about him. The blonde was lacking any shyness, his nudity on full display. Chris couldn’t help but notice the lower portion of the man’s body. He felt heat creeping into his face. Great Redfield, what a fantastic time to get an erection. The blonde’s feral grin told him his reaction had not gone unnoticed.
Chris cleared his throat, still unsure how much the other understood him. He was undoubtedly powerful, having ripped the monster apart with his bare hands in front of him. He realized how lucky he had been that he had simply scoped him out in the darkness rather than make minced meat out of him. Joseph 2.0 was not an experience he wanted to have. The feral man’s defense of Chris indicated that he had not just spared the brunet, but apparently taken enough of a liking to look out for his safety. “Thank you?!” he called out. The blonde dropped to all fours and in a flash was by his side. Chris started to get used to his quick movements and managed not to get rattled. He hesitatingly petted the other man on his shoulders, hoping the gesture would please the nude man and continue to foster a friendly relationship. The man emitted a purrlike sound and rubbed his head against his side. Chris wasn’t sure if he was weirded out or strangely aroused; perhaps, being honest with himself, a little of both. However, having his new protector with him would definitely double his survival chances, plus he wasn’t going to leave the man-beast down here by himself.
“Oh well,” he decided to continue talking. It was a little less creepy than the continued silence. “I guess we should try to make some headway. We were going to try to shut this station down and turn the self-destruction mode on. That’s still the mission, and with the emergency lights on I might be able to figure out our location. If we make it out of here, maybe I could find a place to help you too?” The blonde cocked his head as if he was listening. Again the eyes displayed some intelligence, but no sound emanated that indicated any understanding. He wasn’t actually sure if the blonde needed or wanted help, but he felt oddly responsible for him. Christ, Redfield, getting horny and treating this guy like a puppy. He was really batting a hundred here.
With a sigh, he turned toward the doorway the torn-up beast had appeared from. He had the idea that he needed to head down that direction. He kept the sheath and holster of his remaining weapons open in case he needed quick access and gestured to the blonde to follow him.
“Wouldn’t it be easier if I carry you since I know my way around here and can move a lot faster?” a rough, clearly not used to much practice, voice startled Chris so much that he actually let out a yelp. The blonde’s feral grin turned even wider, the blood splatter on his body and face making the white teeth stand out in contrast.
“You – you can talk?” Chris stated the obvious.
“It appears so,” came an arrogant reply, although not issued unkindly.
Chris tried to process it quickly – he had about a thousand questions for the man-beast beside him, but he had lost time already and not knowing the state of his team, he felt more delays could cost a life. He may have to swallow his dignity, but the blonde was right, it would be a better plan. There was one question he needed to have answered though, “What should I call you?”
The other hesitated, thinking for a moment. Chris wondered if he had forgotten his name, brainwashed perhaps, or if there was another reason why he would be loath to divulge the information. But then a reply came. “You can call me Wesker. That’s what people called me before …” Wesker turned quiet, and impatiently changed the topic. “Do you want to talk or do what you came here for?”
Chris nodded and awkwardly put his arms around the other man who scooped him up princess-style as if he was a featherweight, not a roughly 6-foot muscular guy. Dignity be damned, it had been the right decision as Wesker swiftly navigated through the tunnels. Chris could have never covered the same amount of ground in the same time, not to mention that Wesker seemed to have set a distinctive course. He appeared to have other heightened senses as well, often stopping or slightly altering direction, avoiding unseen enemies lurking in shadows and unopened doors. They only encountered a few zombies and one other frightful creature on their way that they were not able to circumnavigate. Each time Wesker quickly signaled Chris with a snarl to let go as he took care of the problem. Carnage clearly excited Wesker and Chris made a mental note to remember that while he was in his good graces, Wesker was also a formidable opponent and could not be underestimated. He thanked his lucky stars that he had, for some unknown reason, taken a liking to him and was helping him.
They finally stopped in front of a door that seemed to lead into a large lab area. Wesker set him down. It was eerily silent other than their breathing. The door needed to be opened by an access code. Chris wished he had Jill with him. Her skills at dismantling locks were legendary. He approached the panel when Wesker pushed him gently aside, punching in a code, forcing the doors to open. Chris gave him another surprised stare. He really wanted to make it out of here alive with the blonde. He had a feeling there would be some interesting conversations if he had the chance. He spared another quick glance at the man’s body. Um, maybe more than conversations. Dammit, and here he was again, thinking about sex at the worst time possible, with someone who was not even fully human. Turning into a freaky pervert Chris, your sister would be so proud.
They stepped into the area together. For the first time Chris could sense a nervous energy in his companion as if he feared entering the space. He turned to him and spoke softly, “Wesker, if this place is making you uncomfortable you can wait outside the door. I have no intention of leaving you behind and I will come for you once I have activated the self-destruct sequence.” He showed him the gadget Jill had equipped each mission member with, prior to being dropped in the building. They had hoped for the best but prepped for the worst by assuming only one of them might make it. By giving each member the tool to connect with and disengage the red queen - as the semi-sentient computer system was called, based on their intel - they had maximized their chances of success.
Wesker quickly assessed what Chris was showing him and nodded approvingly. Clearly he was familiar with technology, having used the keypad and not seeming at all puzzled by Jill’s device. His still rough voice replied stubbornly,” No. I … have bad memories of this place, but I will not leave you. You’re … the first person I have not had the desire to kill in a very long time. No one has ever offered to help me, or ask if I needed help, or not try to kill me right away.” He gave another of his feral smirks. “And you look too pretty for me to let die down here.”
Well, at least it looked like he knew now why Wesker had taken a liking to him. While a part of him was oddly elated to have been called “pretty” by the attractive part-human assassin who was now apparently flirting with him, another part was mildly panicked, and the brain portions that were not diverted to his groin were trying to focus on the job at hand. Job first, dealing with the hot guy later, Chris admonished himself. He scanned the clinically white room. The only color was from reddish-brown stains that marred multiple surfaces and floor spaces. One of the stains was a handprint, clearly identifying the smudges as dried-up blood. No bodies were present, alive or otherwise. The whole place had a creepy vibe. Some tanks were set up in the middle of the room. One was broken, the other two empty. Wesker, who had followed him closely through the room, looked distressed at the broken tank. On a hunch, Chris faced the blonde and asked quietly, “Yours?”
The blonde nodded and looked away. Chris shuddered, wondering what horrors the man had endured and for how long. That he had been mutated in some way had been clear from the start. He also had a pretty good idea where the smudges in the room came from. He decided not to ask about what happened to the bodies. Wesker could obviously be dangerous but was a victim as well. Chris wasn’t sure how, but he was determined to make sure he was taken care off if they got out of here and not hauled off to be further subjected to tests, be locked up, or terminated as if he was a BOW with no humanity left. He approached one of the computer terminals next to the tanks. The machine was still on. This should allow him to attach Jill’s device and initiate the self-destruct code. He would also be able to download any stored information onto the disc he carried with him. He saw a folder marked Project Wesker and shuddered involuntarily.
“I was one of their scientists,” Wesker volunteered uncomfortably, startling Chris. He had risen from his position on all fours to stand and stare at the screen, his red eyes almost glowing. “I helped develop some of the viruses, but I drew the line at human experimentation. So I became one.” Wesker’s voice was still rough from lack of use and even though he spoke in a flat, detached tone, Chris was able to detect traces of anger, shame, and pain in the blonde’s voice. He didn’t know what to say to comfort the man, so he just offered a gentle hug. He held the man who first resisted stiffly, but then rested his head on his shoulder, crying so quietly that Chris couldn’t tell other than the wetness. The intimate feeling of the other’s body so close to his was distracting in other ways, but Chris was able to focus on consoling the man while using his other arm to complete the download and then attach the self-destruct device. The machine flickered, a shrill alarm pierced the stillness, and then a monotone voice called out a ten-minute sequence with a warning to leave the premises.
Wesker immediately crouched back down, hissing a warning, “We will need to hurry. She will release all of the specimens.” That didn’t sound too comforting. He tucked the disc away and turned to the doorway when the lights went back out, with the countdown continuing eerily in the dark. “Fuck,” he swore, feeling slight panic rise. He didn’t have much time and unlike Wesker he was more or less helpless in the dark. He was actually glad to see the glowing eyes as he knew the other was still with him. He felt Wesker scoop him back up and didn’t even protest. The blonde was his only chance.
It was eerie to have to completely depend on Wesker. He couldn’t see anything, but he heard noises that made his blood run cold. At one point he heard a scream that sounded human. He was both worried and hopeful as this would mean that some of his teammates were still alive, even if in grave danger. Wesker’s breathing had become harsher, as he had run through the dark with Chris in his arms for a good while. Then they entered through a door into a room that had natural sunlight filter through a broken window. Chris sighed in relief as his eyes adjusted, allowing him to feel more in control. Wesker dropped him gently, shielding his own eyes, appearing in pain.
Chris knelt beside him. “Are you ok?”
The blonde mumbled, “Light sensitive.” He didn’t leave but now he was at Chris’s mercy as he appeared unable to see in the light without immense pain. Chris remembered he had worn his sunglasses on the helicopter ride over. He searched his pocket and found that miraculously they were still unbroken. “This should help,” he told Wesker as he carefully, as not to startle his companion, placed the glasses on his head. The man purred in gratitude, repeating his rubbing head gesture he seemed fond off.
“Chris?” a loud, startled voice interrupted the moment. Chris looked up to see Jill, supporting Foster who was injured, staring at him in disbelief, just a few feet away. Wesker growled, and Chris placed his hand on his shoulder, hoping to control the blonde. This was the moment of truth – if he had any hope of taking Wesker back with him he would need to be able to keep him from harming others. This also meant he would have to shoot him if he went after Jill – something he absolutely would hate to have to resort to. Wesker trembled, his red eyes shining through the glasses as he kept glancing up to the brunette, looking at him for direction. “She’s my friend. They are my teammates. Do not harm them.” Wesker continued to growl, placing his body protectively in front of the man’s body, but he stayed put.
Jill and Foster gaped, the sight before them surreal. Here was Chris whose radio contact had ceased over an hour ago after they had heard Joseph’s death cries and Chris in panic mode. Not only that but based on the continuing countdown – with 3 minutes left they would need to hurry and pray Brad was there with the helicopter – Chris had to have been the one who had accomplished access to the mainframe and knocking out the Red Queen. However, the most startling revelation was the naked man in front of the brunette who was growling at them like a dog, covered in dry blood, and wearing Chris’s sunglasses. Jill couldn’t help it, she burst out with laughter, having all the men stare at her. “I’m sorry,” she choked out, “but you really know how to pick them. How in the hell do you find a date in the bowls of Umbrella?”
The mysterious blonde gifted her a feral smile, Chris turned beet-red, and Foster groaned, making a good point, “Can we get out of here first please? I mean, congrats Redfield, but we have just a couple minutes to make it to the rooftop, and I don’t walk so well right now.”
Chris looked at Wesker who groaned displeased, and even though Chris couldn’t tell due to the glasses, he was sure he was rolling his eyes. Within seconds a startled and loudly protesting Foster was carried by Wesker, while Chris and Jill hurried after the unnaturally quick blonde. Jill couldn’t help grinning as they jogged up to the helicopter site on the roof. They had less than 60 seconds, but it appeared they would make it. Wesker had already deposited Foster into the copter, with Brad looking extremely uncomfortable at the strange man when Jill and Chris joined them.
Jill sat next to Foster, allowing Chris and the blonde to sit together on the other side. As the helicopter lifted away, Chris grabbed one of the blankets on board to cover Wesker up somewhat. He figured the man didn’t have to expose himself to every person he met, plus he was feeling a little jealous. He couldn’t even finish the thought when Wesker suddenly leaned forward and kissed him passionately, sucking his tongue into his mouth as if he was a hoover. Chris groaned, returning to a lovely shade of tomato, and gently pushing the blonde back, speaking softly, “Not here. Later.” Jill was snorting with renewed laughter, but thankfully Foster had passed out, leaving Chris a little less embarrassed. Below them a huge explosion rocked the helicopter, but they had enough distance to safely continue in their escape to base.