☆ | 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐮𝐧𝐬 - a RESIDENT EVIL fanfiction.

☆ | 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐫

September 22nd, 1998.

Current Location: The Poker Chip Bar, Raccoon City, USA.

10:30 P.M.

The sound of chattering voices and booming music fill the dimly lit bar, a replay of today's college football game playing on the small, bulky television hung in one of the corners.

Over at the barstools, you'll find Raccoon City's one and only 19-Year-Old Detective, Katara Hale, drinking her sorrows away on a work night, as usual. Although she worked for the law, she never really followed their rules, and Spades thought she was mature enough for a drink or two.

She was never that fond of sports, so instead, her eyes wandered around, analyzing the people's faces rather than the TV above her. Her ivy green eyes caught a glimpse of some crystal blue ones. A rather young and innocent looking man entered the bar, his puffy and red eyebags so deep you could swim in them. He looked like he had been crying for a while. He definitely did not look like a regular.

"Poor mate, wonder what happened to him. He seems pitiful." Katara thought to herself as the man walked up to the bar, only a few feet away, waving politely to Spades to order himself a treat.

She watched from afar, only she didn't stare, just stole a few quick glances. Spades shortly came back, handing the man his liquor of choice. It was just a simple whiskey on the rocks.

Spades walked away from the man and came up to Katara with a smile. His personality was quite the opposite of his appearance. "So, Kat, thinking of another Cranberry?" He asked her as he picked up her empty glass, rinsing it out in the sink in front of him and wiping it down with his rag. "Double Vodka this time, please. I'm feeling special tonight." Katara chuckled a bit, when Spades joined in on the laughter as well. "Alright, just this once...but y'know you can't keep doing this almost every night...you'll get caught by a colleague of yours, or worse...they'd arrest me!" Spades wiggled a finger at Katara, causing her to stifle another laugh. "I know, I know. I just can't help it. Addictions are difficult, Spades."

Spades laughed at Katara's response as he walked off to prepare her...2nd, 5th, 8th, well...whatever, you get it. Another Vodka Cranberry for her to chug down and regret it in the morning.

Her eyes traveled back over to the man sitting across from her. He seemed to have been looking at her as well, and a small dust of pink appeared on his cheeks.

"Oh, I'm sorry for staring. I just couldn't help but listen to your conversation. I'm a little bit nosy." The young man chuckled nervously as he looked at Katara, who sent him a warm smile in return. "It's alright. I'm the same way..." She trailed off, analyzing him for a moment. "Say, you don't look familiar. You're not a regular, are you? At least, I never see you around." Katara cocked an eyebrow as she heard a small "clunk" in front of her, and gave a nod to Spades to thank him for her drink.

"It was that easy to tell?" The man laughed a bit. "This is my first time here, I usually just buy my own alcohol at home. I'm Leon, Leon Kennedy." He stuck a hand out for her to shake, and she returned it politely.

"Wait a minute...Kennedy...sounds familiar." She tapped her finger on her chin for a moment, before she looked back up at him. "Ah, you're the rookie, right? I'm Katara Hale, I work for the RPD as well. Lead Detective." She gave him a small nod out of courtesy. "I'm supposed to be helping you out next week with your first case. Speaking of...why are you out here at the bar, instead of getting good rest and exercise? We start very early in the morning." She sounded a bit stern, although it was clear she was joking.

"I could ask you the same question, Detective. Why are you out here at the bar instead of getting some sleep and exercise?" Leon joked, although there was a small underlying look of concern painted on his face. "Ah, just gotta wash my feelings away, y'know? And please, call me Kat. I hate formalities."

"I feel you." Leon nodded in agreement. "I broke up with my girlfriend a few hours ago. It was rough, but...I'm glad I did. She didn't treat me so kindly." He stifled a laugh as he took a sip of his whiskey. Katara had now understood why his eyes were puffy when he walked in. Breaking up was tough. Katara...well, had some experience with a breakup. But that "experience" was different than most. She took her drink into her hand and swished around the ice a few times as she mixed the cranberry with the vodka. Katara smiled, for she always felt like some type of chemist, mixing up a new formula to cure some terrible disease.

After many minutes went by, the only sound coming from the awkward sip of their drinks, Katara spoke. "So, Leon...you graduated at the top of your class, right? In the academy?"

Leon snapped out of his small daze and looked back at Katara with a nod of his head. "Mhm, yeah. You did too, right? How old were you when you were in the academy?" He asked.

"I was...let's see, er...about 16 years old." She nodded her head. "16?!" He exclaimed, almost spitting out his drink. "Wait, how old are you now?"

"19. I'll be 20 in November." She smiled. Leon paused. "Wait a minute, so...what are you doing here at the bar? You're underage. Why doesn't the bartender ever ID you?"

"Don't get your knickers in a twist, rookie." She laughed at his nervous expression, taking one last swig of her drink. "Well, Spades pretty much raised me since I was 15. I call him my second dad. He took me under his wing when I traveled here from Melbourne." She explained, an amused look on her face. "He knows I'm mature enough for a drink or two. Plus, It's legal in Australia!"

"Ah, well...I guess you're right. Don't worry though, I won't mention it to chief." Leon laughed off his anxiety, as he took the last swig of his whiskey. Suddenly, Katara's watch beeped. "Oh, damn it...It's already 11? Ah, sorry mate. I have to head back home and get some sleep, or I'll have a world record hangover tomorrow, and maybe a DUI if I decide to stay any longer. Plus, I have some things to grab back at the station." She chuckled, beginning to stand up and stretch her arms a bit. She grabbed her crossbody bag that had been draped over her chair, slinging it over her shoulder.

"Well, guess this means I'll see you again next week. Be on time, okay? I'm counting on you, Kennedy." She gave him a smile and a nod as she began to walk off, and asked Spades to grab her key for her. He obliged, slipping off towards the back and returning swiftly, with the key in hand.

Leon watched the scene play out, muttering to himself with a slight blush on his cheeks. After a small while of enjoying the bustling bar, he then left and returned back to his humble abode.

...

Brrring! Brrring! Brrring!

The sound of a ringtone filled the walls of Leon's bedroom. He groaned, sitting up in his bed as he rubbed his eye, his vision slowly returning back to him as he picked up his phone.

"5:45 A.M." The clock read. The number on the screen seemed unfamiliar. He thought about just pressing ignore, but there was a deep feeling in his body. Answer the call.

"Hello, who is this?" He asked as he put the device to his ear. All that could be heard was the sound of deep, rigid breathing. "Hello?" He repeated. Nothing. His finger was inches away from pressing the bright, red cellphone logo on his keypad, but then...

"W-Wait, Leon! Is that you? It's me, K- damn it!" A female voice rang quietly through the speakers of the device, followed by the ringing shriek of multiple gunshots.

The voice...it belonged to Katara.

"Yeah, it's me. Kat, what's going on? Is everything okay?" He asked groggily, a worried tone in his voice. "Uh, well...n-not really, I- H-Holy Fuck, they're e-everywhere!" It sounded like she lost grip of her cellphone, as a cracking sound was heard. The audio began to glitch, as Katara's breathing got heavier.

"Are you in danger? W-What do you mean, "they're everywhere?" His tone got more panicked as he continued to listen to Katara's distressed words. Katara breathed a few times from the other side, seemingly in a more quiet, secluded place.

"Leon, please..." She huffed. "Whatever you do...stay inside, and do NOT come to work-! Oh, Shit-!"

...

Silence.