Outsider

[Leon/Claire, Leon/Angela]

Disclaimer: I do not own Resident Evil or its characters. They all belong to CAPCOM.

Outsider

Chapter 1 A Call To ...

"...... Six months after Harvardville Airport incident, the fear in the hearts of the citizens is on the wane. But could the suffer dissipate entirely from the world one day?......"

Sighing, Claire put down her cup of coffee. She couldn't help frowning at the TV screen, although the subject of the morning news report has switched to a traffic accident in somewhere. The scenes of the horrible terrorist attack flushed in her mind and she felt like all these had just happened yesterday...

Ring Ring, Ring Ring...

The telephone call pulled Claire back from her unpleasant memories. Good. She now had a justification not to think about those things at this moment. Claire lifted up the remote near by to switch off the television, then quickly leaned on the couch to fetch the receiver.

"Hi, Redfield speaking!"

"Um, hello," said a female voice, seemingly about Claire's age. It sounded like a rather sophisticated woman, though the disappointment could be heard in her voice. "... May I speak to..."

"Yes, miss?" prompted Claire after a few seconds of silence.

" Well, I guess I've dialed the wrong number. Sorry for interrupting you."

" Never mind," said Claire politely, not annoyed by the call at all. " Um well, have a good day!"

Claire was about to hung up before she heard the female saying from the other end of the phone," W- Wait please!"

" Um yes?" said Claire as she placed the receiver again near her ear.

" Are you Redfield? Claire Redfield?"

" Yes, I am..." answered Claire, trying to search in the data for the name of this female who knew her but failed. "... Excuse me, you are..."

" Well, I hope you could remember a S.R.T. member in the Airport Incident... I am Miller, Angela Miller."

Oh Angela. How could Claire forget her: one of the scarce survivors in the Harvardville Airport incident; the younger sister of Curtis Miller; the partner of Leon S. Kennedy in the events which Claire knew in the slightest...

" Hi Angela. Of course I remember you!" chuckled Claire softly, glad to hear from Angela though she knew the fact that she was not the one Angela wanted to phone to. " May I help you anything?"

" Yes, please, Miss Redfield," replied Angela immediately. " I am looking for Leon."

Not Mr Kennedy, but Leon. Claire wouldn't have minded that they were on first name terms if Angela had done the same on her.

Angela thought for a second and continued," I will have a few days off next week so I wonder if I could spend the time visiting Leon and we may... erm..."

"... Diving together, perhaps?" suggested Claire as the conversation between Leon and Angela flashed back in her mind. They had promised to go diving together sometime again.

"No!" exclaimed Angela rather surprisingly. Realizing herself being overreacted, she cleared her throat and explained," At that time it was just- and I couldn't breath in the water so Leon was, you know, so kind to help me so he just-"

" Sorry," whispered Claire. She should have known what 'diving together' meant. Then Angela need not account for the incident with some reasons that she didn't hope they were. "So... why are you finding Leon but has dialed to me instead?"

" Oh, I have got Leon's mobile phone at that time. I've dialed it for numerous times but he has never answered. I wonder if I've got the wrong number... Then I asked my colleagues but it is the same number that I could get. Later one of my colleagues managed to get another number of Leon from a telephone book... I didn't know it is actually your telephone number, Miss Redfield..." Her voice raised a little , implying Claire to have an explain on this issue.

" Oh that, I think the number you've got was Leon's previous phone number. He has changed a new one, you know... And I think my telephone number is mistakenly mixed with his data..." There was a short period of time when Leon moved into Claire's flat. It was after the Airport Incident that Leon became Claire's housemate when he got vacation permitted by the President. He stayed in Chris's spare room when Chris had gone for missions. Leon said he liked this city, considering it was vibrant with life and at the same time very peaceful. He soon bought a brand new flat a few streets away for his own. ( That flat surely cost a fortune, suspected by Claire, but Leon the Government Agent replied," My fee's way too good.") Claire guessed that her telephone number was put under Leon's information when he moved in to her flat... But she was not going to tell it to Angela or letting her misunderstand anything.

" Would you like to have Leon's new number?" asked Claire. " Haha, guess Leon won't blame me if I've spilled out his number to you."

" Well, why would he blame you?"

" You know there's been some anonymous disturbing calls or some papers continuously called asking for interviews which has driven Leon mad. He've got a new phone number and concealed it from other people except some close friends of him." As far as Claire knew, there were no more than twenty people in the world had Leon's real phone number. The President had it, that's for sure; and besides that the Redfields had possessed two places.

" Oh is that so... " muttered Angela sourly.

" I guess Leon's just forgotten to inform you his number." comforted Claire kindly. " Let me tell you than, but please wait for a moment before I could find my address book-" Claire clamped the receiver between her head and shoulder for a moment to fetch the bag near the couch and fished for the little notebook.

" Are you very close with Leon, Miss Redfield?" asked Angela suddenly, making Claire paused her posture for a second.

" I guess so, " replied Claire, warm smile appearing on her face. " We do not really meet together frequently, but our friendship has never changed since we met in the Racoon city years ago. If I hadn't met Leon there, I were killed inexorably by the zombies in the restaurant. I treasure him as my life-long friend."

"Oh... Sorry for my rudeness, Miss Redfield. I was a bit envious with what you've mentioned," Angela confided," After the mission with Leon, I have... developed feelings to him..."

" I got it. I think Leon treats you differently from the others."

" Really?" asked Angela hopefully.

" Ah," confirmed Claire, flipping her address book. She suddenly wondered would Leon do the mouth to mouth resuscitation to her if she were the one being drowned... No, definitely not. Claire simpered a little at herself. Leon wouldn't. He would save Ada and Angela for he liked them... Ashley also for she was the President's daughter... but not Claire, who was just a friend of him...

" Miss Redfield... " addressed Angela. " Do you think Leon would be happy if I've come and had a dinner with him?"

" Yeah, of course he would!" answered Claire. Leon had kept single and had limited social life. If Angela came to see him, he must be very pleased. " Leon mentioned that he would have a few days off after his current mission. Probably next week, if I remember correctly."

"Good, I'll have the holidays starting from next Wednesday."

"Perfect timing! I think you'd better phone him earlier to let him get prepared," suggested Claire. " Now, Angela, do you have a pen? I shall tell you Leon's mobile phone number ..."

" Excuse me, Miss Redfield. I've instantly rang a bell and thought of an idea. Do you think Leon'll be delighted and surprised if he was attending a dinner with a normal friend and turn out to find me at the table?"

" ..." Claire felt in silence as she was surprised at what Angela was talking about.

" Miss Redfield, you do not need to tell me Leon's number. Thank you. But I require for your help."

"..."

" Leon and I shall be very grateful after it. You are Leon's friend, and mine also, Claire."

Claire thought for a moment, and could see no point refusing to help Angela. She should support Angela and Leon, to bring them together, if Claire and they were friends.

...To Be Continued...

A/N: Thank you for reading my first fic on Resident Evil! Leon/Claire is my best favourite pairing! First of all I must admit I dislike Angela Miller. I am trying to make her only being a good woman who falls in love blindly but I can not guarantee if I would made her becoming more and more envious and devious... The plot is quite simple actually, and you may guess what's next probably. I genuinely hope I could have your support. Please read it like a chessy soap opera! Read and Reviews are mostly appreciated.