No More Running…

Leon/Claire fic.

It's time to stop running…and start loving.

Leon Kennedy sighed as he sat down on the edge of his Arizona home. He slipped off his T-shirt and popped the lid on the cooler, he grabbed a cold beer and slammed the lid home. He let his legs drop over the side of the roof and leaned back, he twisted the cap off and chugged back the icy cold liquid. He adjusted his aviator sunglasses then noticed a gleam in the horizon, he didn't have a chance to do a double take and let his agent training take over.

Leon ran to a strongbox he had on the roof and flipped it open. Inside were four sniper rifles. He ran down the list of weapons he had: a Russian VSSK Vychlop, a Barret M95, a Barret M82A1 and a Erma SR-100 .308. The first three were .50 caliber and held five shots with the exception of the 82. He grabbed the SR and raced towards the gleam and leaped onto his stomach. He ignored the brief pain then worked the bolt back, he brought the scope to his eye as he thought. "They couldn't have found me already."

He watched the gleam get closer then he saw it turned out to be a truck. He watched it get closer until he saw the driver's face. He exhaled and relaxed his finger. He swung the heavy gun onto his sweaty back and pushed up his aviators back onto his forehead as the truck came to a stop. The driver and passenger got out and looked around, they saw a couple of lawn chairs thrown out on several spots in the front. They looked up and saw a satellite dish clipped to the side. The home was one solid structure of mortar and had two floors. There was a garage off to the left, the doors wide open and they could see the shape of a car.

"Are you sure he's here?" asked the passenger still looking around. The driver answered "Pretty sure. Plus it's the only house way out here. Either he's here or some nutcase." "THAT WOULD BE BOTH!" a voice from the second floor called out. They both looked up to see Leon, shirtless with his rifle across his back, decked out in faded blue jeans and black combat boots. He stepped back abit and jumped off the roof, landing on the garage. He then vaulted off the edge and landed infront of them.

"Hey Sherry. Long time no see." He ruffled the younger girl's hair before he turned to the driver. "Claire. I have to tell you something." "Oh God. What is it? That voice of his." He bent down and whispered gently in her ear. "You should stick to your motorcycle." She rolled her eyes and smacked his arm, Leon shook his head while Sherry looked around. "Hey Leon, sweet house you got AHHH!" A big dog came bounding out from inside the house and jumped on Sherry. He hovered over her face, he started sniffing then slobbered her with kisses. "Get him off me!" she half cried/ half laughed.

Leon dragged the drooling dog off Sherry. "Come here. Come here boy. Atta boy." He patted the dog's sides as the dog started sniffing Claire's legs. He liked this one better. He stopped sniff then looked up at Claire with big brown eyes, he exhaled thru his nose then sat down. He started wagging his tail waiting for Claire to pet him. Claire bent down and scratched the dog behind the ears, his eyes closed and his big tongue poked out as Claire continued.

Claire smiled up at Leon. "He's cute. He got a name?" "Rusty." Claire smiled at the dog again, the dog quickly rolled back over and tried to get her to scratch him again. Leon went around to the back of the truck and grabbed the two suitcases in back. Leon grunted and hefted the cases out of the trunk. "For once you listened to me. You packed light." Claire shook her head, "Actually, I packed half my stuff and half of Sherry's stuff in one bag and the other half is in the second one."

Leon opened the door to Claire's room on the second floor: it had a single bed, a dresser in the corner and a closet. There were acouple pictures on the walls and a patio outback. Claire flopped back on the bed and folded her arms behind her head. Leon set her suitcase down beside the bed and adjusted the sling for his rifle. "You can unpack now. If you need me, I'll be on the roof." After a uncomfortable silence, Leon left the room and climbed the stairs to the roof.

Claire watched him go and saw the distinct outlines of scars on his back and chest. She remembered how he got them, she remembered very well.

Well. That's the first chapter.

Time for some questions:

1. How did Leon get those scars?

2. Was Claire the cause of them?

These questions will be answered in the next chapter: Everything Comes out.