So I'm noticing a serious lack of Chris and Leon loving in this world... I'm not here to flood the place with it but I am here to help the cause a little. Anyway, this first chapter is just the introduction to let you get a feel for the characters and how I've portrayed them. As usual, I don't own the characters and all I own are the games in which they are featured. Enjoy.

Chapter One

Chris wasn't a fan of the government in any way. He constantly felt betrayed by them and didn't trust them one bit. However, regardless of his feelings towards them, he never stopped them from signing his cheques or sending him across the world on missions. Of these two things, he was a fan.

So when he was sent to Rome to simply investigate some old ruins, he didn't argue. He wasn't an archaeologist and his interest and knowledge of history was limited but he wasn't going to turn down a chance to visit Italy. After all, he'd done these kinds of missions before. In and out with few hiccups. The worst that ever happens is a historian breaks a nail…or a nose but word had got around on the archaeologist scene not to mess with Chris Redfield so he doubted there would be a repeat of that.

He always packed light. Only the essentials were necessary: toiletries, clothes, laptop, phone and a small good luck charm from his sister. Normally, he wouldn't even take the laptop but it held the directions to where he was going and he could look up local attractions to visit.

He clutched his holdall as he climbed off the back of his sister's motorcycle, handing the spare helmet to Claire and taking his sunglasses out of his pocket.

"I'm going to miss you," Claire said, handing a passport and a few documents over to Chris.

"I'll only be gone a couple of weeks," he replied, putting his shades on and looking at his passport. He hated his picture in it and wished he could change it but it wasn't to be renewed for another year. His hair looked awful. "Anyway, you'll be able to have that little boyfriend of yours over," he said, taking his cigarettes out of his pocket and placing one between his lips.

"Hardly. He gets on my nerves more than you do." She threw a lighter over to her brother, remembering to grab it from the kitchen before leaving. She knew he'd forget it. She quickly started making her way towards the airport. For a man with such military training, Chris had an awful sense of time.

He caught the lighter with ease, quickly lighting up and blowing out a puff of smoke. "A moment ago you said you'd miss me," he laughed, catching up to his sister. "Man, I don't get you women. You remind me of Jill, she was always saying one thing but meaning another."

"Oh yeah, and your tiny brain couldn't handle that. I still don't know why you two broke up. I really liked her, even if she did lie about bleaching her hair." She stopped and faced her brother, grabbing the cigarette from his mouth and discarding it before hugging his tightly.

"What did you do that for?" He asked, his voice muffled by her hair.

"You've got about five minutes before your plane sets off and you're not allowed to smoke in the airport," she said, pushing him away and smiling. "Now go! Quick quick!"

Chris nodded as he started walking backwards into the airport. "I'll buy you a souvenir! Something really tacky!" He yelled, grinning madly.

Claire rolled her eyes, putting her helmet back on. "Great…" she murmured.

.

He leaned back in his seat. The perks of working for the government were rich. Luxury travel arrangements. First class tickets everywhere. What was a few bullet wounds and near death experiences when you could fly back with your feet up cradling a glass of whiskey?

Not to mention the flight attendants wearing tight skirts and pale white shirts. If he focused long enough, he could see through them. The outline of red lace and the small bump of a nipple. Then there was the view when they bent down to top up his glass…Yes, his job had its perks.

But when things went well, Chris always wondered what would go wrong next. The plane crashing was too clichéd for his life. Perhaps a screaming child or an elderly passenger would ruin it.

It wasn't until he got off the plane that something went wrong. He'd been on many journeys before; passed through many airports and he was sure that when you were unable to pick up your bag from baggage claim then there was a problem.

"So what exactly do you mean?" Chris asked, grinding his teeth together in an attempt to suppress his anger.

The man behind the desk cradled the phone on his shoulder and held his hand up. "One moment," he said with a heavy Italian accent.

Chris could only lean against the counter and watch the man talk into the phone in a language he would probably never understand. He browsed the leaflets in the small holders, watched the changing times and statuses on the departures and arrivals board.

"There was a problem with your luggage before it went on the plane," the man started, looking at his computer with disinterest. "A weapon of some sort was found to be in your possession…"

"Excuse me? A weapon?" Chris slammed his hand onto the counter, breathing heavily. "I don't know what the fuck you're talking about…I mean, what the fuck?" He laughed, his fingers drumming on the desk.

"Sir, if you don't calm down I will have to call security," the man said in broken English, his eyes looking over Chris's shoulder and at the security guard lurking in the background.

Chris glanced quickly over his shoulder before standing up straight and holding his hands up. "I am calm. Calm as the ocean."

The man behind the desk raised an eyebrow. Clearly the phrase held no relevance in Italy.

"Will I get my luggage back at all?" He asked, taking in deep breaths.

The man shook his head. "It has been…" He waved his hands in the air, searching for a word. "Incinerated."

Chris held his breath, promptly turning around and walking out of the airport, the security guard's eyes on him until he climbed into a taxi and they pulled away. He knew he should have just taken his bag on as hand luggage. He just knew it.

.

The taxi journey was as pleasant as the plane journey. Relaxing, until he got to the other end and found out he had to pay a ridiculous amount of money. He had his fair share of good luck and he always had a dose of bad luck to even it out.

The building he arrived at was a typical government building. Flags decorated the outside and armed guards stood at every gate, window and manhole and like most, it took more than just a flash of his passport to gain entrance.

"So glad to see you could finally make it," a man bellowed from the front door as Chris was being patted down, the guard being overly friendly with his hands, earning him a stern look from Chris.

"I only got told about it a couple of days ago, I ain't no miracle worker," Chris snapped as he shrugged the guards off him and strode forward to take hold of the man's hand, shaking it firmly.

The man wasn't handsome on any level. Balding and overweight; a typical government fat cat who always called in lackeys to do his dirty work. However, a trip to Rome was a trip to Rome, regardless of who was paying for it or who you were working for.

"A feisty, rude American…" the man mumbled. "Such a rare occurrence." He smiled cheerfully before turning and leading Chris into the building.

"So what can I call you?" Chris asked as he took a seat in the man's office. He took in the lavish furniture and the bold wallpaper. It was old fashioned and he was sure the chair he was sat in was over a hundred years old.

The man pursed his lips. "My name is not of importance," he said with a boastful tone, placing a large cigar in his mouth. "Your task, however, is. I want you and a partner to go to a site, just outside of the city, and just scope out the place. Make sure it's safe for my archaeologists to return there."

Chris leaned forward slightly. "Return there? What exactly went down there?" He paused for a moment, watching the man blow smoke rings with the cigar smoke. "And what do you mean by 'partner'? I was told this was a solo mission."

"Yes well, it has come to my attention that you may need some form of backup." He rocked in his chair slightly, his hands on his stomach and the cigar clutched between his teeth. "Of course, I'll equip you with only the best weapons to date and you'll be staying in one of the best places in Italy with your partner. All very good, nice as pie. Hunky dory as you yanks would say."

Chris frowned. He couldn't remember a time he'd ever said that. But the main thing on his mind was the fact he would be getting a partner for a mission he assumed he could do with his eyes closed. He didn't work well with partners; not anymore.

"Ah, here's your partner now," the man said, standing up and gesturing at the door.

He wasn't sure exactly what nationality this man was supposed to be. He was reminiscent of a Texan oil tycoon but he spoke with a heavy Indian accent but dressed like an Englishman going for a spot of afternoon tea.

He craned his neck around at the sound of the door opening, instantly dismissing the sight of his partner and turning around. He wasn't anything special. His first thought was that a teenage haircut on a thirty-something man was not a good idea.

"I want you to meet your partner for the duration of your stay," he pushed the man in front of Chris, forcing Chris to stumble to his feet to avoid an awkward encounter with a stranger's crotch. "Leon Kennedy."

Chris wiped the palm of his hand on his trousers before shaking hands with Leon. He eyed up his new partner with disdain. He didn't want or need a partner; especially not one that looked like a breeze would knock him over. "Chris Redfield," he said bluntly.

"He's a good guy, you two will have no problems at all," the man spoke with a happy tone, wrapping his arms around both men's shoulders and moving towards the door. "Leon has all the details of your mission and will help you in any way."

"Wait, if I may ask you something…" Chris started, faltering slightly as the man shoved him out of his office.

However, before he could even formulate a sentence, the door was slammed shut and Leon was already striding off down the corridor. Clearly, this new partnership wasn't an ideal for him either.

.

"So have they affected your penis size in any way?" Leon asked as they arrived outside, the midday heat blazing down on them.

Chris arched his left eyebrow and shot a glance at his new partner. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"The steroids, I mean."

He laughed, once again showing his passport to the guards to exit. "These muscles are one hundred percent Chris Redfield, built with discipline and endurance. I don't harm my body with such things." He stopped, taking out his cigarettes and placing one between his lips.

Leon stopped and grunted slightly. "Oh but you'll give yourself lung cancer? Great, another genius I have the pleasure to work with. I just can't wait."

Chris chuckled, smoke filling the air before him. "Don't start acting all high and mighty with me, Kennedy. You're no better than me."

"I wasn't acting. I am better than you," he said with a smirk, setting off again. "Look, I don't want to be your friend and I don't want to be your partner. We're going to do the mission, then you can get lost back to America and I can continue doing what I do here."

"Which is what exactly? Sitting around eating pizza and straightening your hair?" Chris said as he caught up with Leon. He wasn't sure where exactly they were going but he figured Leon knew where his hotel was being as he had all the details.

"Were you made aware that you'd be staying with me for the duration of your stay?" Leon asked, ignoring Chris's question and facing him.

Chris stared at Leon for a moment, grinning as if what Leon said was a joke before he noticed the look on his face and realised he was serious. "I was told I would have full accommodation. En-suite bathroom, breakfast at 7am… You're joking, right? The guy just told me I'd be staying in the best place in Italy!"

Leon shook his head. "You will have an en-suite. Breakfast is at seven. If you want, you can find a hotel but it's high season and people around here don't look kindly on us. They know we work for the government and they dislike it." His voice was monotonous as he spoke. "And my place is the best place in Italy. I've had the pleasure of hosting dinner for the boss and his wife several times."

"What about if I want to lie in?" Chris asked, raising his arms in the air, trying to shake off his jetlag.

"I thought you were disciplined?" He said with a coy tone. "I'm not your mother. If you want to lie in on days we aren't working, then do it. If you want, I'll keep out of your way as long as you keep out of mine. Hell, we don't have to have dinner together. " He paused, smiling sarcastically. "Just make sure than when I have some mutant historian gnawing on my neck, you have a shotgun ready."

Chris watched as Leon continued ahead. Mutant historian? He was told this was a simple exploration job: in and out.

He sighed heavily, this was turning into a nightmare trip. First a lost bag, then a partner with a serious attitude problem and talk of mutants, which had him instantly breaking out in a cold sweat. Why was nothing ever simple?

So we have Chris being a manly man and Leon being a little awkward. If you're reading this, you're probably wondering how they'll get together and when the manloving will come into it since Chris was on a plane looking at ladies. Don't worry, I assure you there will be action so let us see if you can stay with this just long enough for a plot to develop. Updates will be whenever I have time and reviews are always appreciated. Hit counters make me depressed when you see how many hits you've had and so few reviews.