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It was 2009. Decades after Raccoon City fell. The entire population was gone. Dead.
Not everyone, though. The man behind the incident itself didn't.
Raccoon City was destroyed, thousands of people were killed. Except one of those people, the man behind the incident, Doctor William Birkin, had survived. Wesker saved him, whether Birkin would to agree to that fact or not. Annette had not. A shame. Wesker would never admit if that was purposeful or not. Sherry did, after being saved by some rookie cop and a punk girl. Christopher Redfield's younger sister, Wesker had told Birkin. Sherry was in enemy grounds now, being raised in some government program like a common lab rat. That was what Wesker's spies had told them, anyway.
Now they were in Africa. Working in Tricell. When Birkin had arrived, Wesker immediately made sure that Birkin was given a high ranking position. The co-leading scientist of the Uroboros Project, surpassed only by Wesker in terms of company position. At least there was someone Wesker could trust working alongside him now.
Wesker tapped his fist against Birkin's office door. Nothing. He tapped again. He heard a small sob from inside the office.
Without another knock, Wesker opened the door, stepping into Birkin's office. He shut the door behind him as he noticed Birkin's face was buried in his hands. "William," he spoke his name smoothly, "place your hands down."
When he obeyed, Wesker thinned his lips. His best friend's pale face was streaked in tears. "Why do you cry," Wesker asked in a monotone voice.
"You know why," Birkin snapped. He seemed much more anxious than usual. Poor thing. "My wife is dead. My daughter is gone. My HOME is gone. Albert, I--"
Wesker interrupted him. "You fell out of love with Annette a long time ago, William." He cocked his head to the side, much like an owl would. "Do not mention her again. She never truly cared about *you* anyway."
Birkin scowled. "She did," he protested. Silly William. Silly, emotional William.
"You believe me," Wesker accused. "She must have fallen out of love with you some point after you two married. After she gave birth to Sherry, I believe. Is that correct, William?"
"Don't," Birkin snapped again, his teeth grit like an angry dog.
Wesker smirked. He didn't need to say more. He knew his words had affected him. He made leisurely steps over to Birkin's desk, and then leaned over his dearest friend's shoulder. "Do not cry so much," he admonished, "you will stain those files. We need those for Uroboros."
Birkin lifted his head, teary dark blue eyes meeting the hidden ones belonging to Wesker. He didn't respond. Wesker hummed, reaching his leather-gloved hand up, cupping Birkin's warm cheek. Birkin raised an eyebrow at that. The confusion on his wet face was palpable. Poor thing indeed.
Wesker leaned in more, kissing his dearest friend once. Birkin didn't resist, as if he were frozen in place. Wesker kissed him again. This time, Birkin responded, one of his trembling hands holding onto one of Wesker's wrists. Birkin could feel something underneath the skin, writhing. They both knew what it was. There was no need to act disgusted.
When their lips parted, Wesker smiled- yes, an actual smile. He could feel the wrinkles that would form from that simple expression already forming, denting his perfect face. The thought would have disgusted him if he were expressing himself to anyone but William.
And William, oh, William was staring up at him with wide eyes. It was Wesker's time to be confused now, because poor William didn't respond until half a minute later. "You... just kissed me," he murmured, dumbfounded. "I never knew you were a homosexual, Albert."
Wesker laughed at that. "Hm. How perverted of me. You would do well not to expose my yearnings," he dryly teased, earning a small, breathless chuckle from Birkin.
Birkin shook his head, the small smile on his face slowly fading. "I... I am as well," he admitted.
"Was your marriage with Annette a lavender one, I assume?" Wesker asked randomly, knowing it would slightly infuriate Birkin.
Birkin didn't respond for a moment, eyeing the ground. "No. Not lavender." Birkin took a deep breath, rolling a pen between his fingers. "We... it was complicated. I did love her, at some point. But..." He trailed off. That slightly worried Wesker. Birkin rarely trailed off, unless he was truly stressed. And truly stressed was not good for their project.
Wesker nodded in response, his hands falling back to his sides. Birkin bit his tongue in thought.
"...so, what does this mean for us?" Birkin awkwardly questioned. Wesker raised an eyebrow. If they were to form a relationship, it would have to be secret at first. There were people watching them everywhere, especially now that Wesker was the chief researcher of a multi-industrial conglomerate. But, on the other hand, after everything he had done to save William...
"I want you," Wesker finally stated. Birkin tilted his head to the side a bit, his dirty blonde hair falling over his forehead, messy from a noticeable lack of sleep. After a prolonged moment of utter silence, Birkin bashfully replied, "I want you too."
Wesker felt a sense of victory at that simple phrase. He let it show on his face with a smug expression. "Then it's settled," he replied. "You will be my..." Wesker hesitated, before continuing with confidence, "boyfriend, and I will be yours. And you will stay with me, in my own manor, and you will take your things with you. I insist."
Birkin seemed to hesitate at that last statement before wordlessly nodding. "I'll see you tonight at your office, then," he murmured, a small awkward smile on his face. When Wesker turned to leave, he could feel a small smile forming on his own face. This was certainly a new beginning...