Welcome to 'Siren's Price'. I'm happy to have you! This special piece was inspired by my old 'Alchemy of Siren', a Leon/Chris adventure. The creation of this tale was drawn out over a series of events, including my reborn devotion for the Resident Evil series, and the consideration of 'Alchemy's last review. The person responsible for submitting that review didn't like the way Alchemy was written, but went to great lengths to tell me why. As every nay sayer should, that reviewer supplied me with ample, logical details, explaining how 'Alchemy' was riddled with 'purple prose'.

Thinking back on 'Alchemy', and my hopes for this new year, I am still holding that reviewer's words to heart. 'Alchemy of Siren' was laden with 'purple prose'. I now frown on certain elements of the story, only approving of the Leon/Claire fluff I wrote, and the appearace of RE4's merchant (hello, strangah). It was too fluffy, too sappy, and I didn't approve of the way Leon quickly fell in love with Chris.

I made up my own private rehash of 'Alchemy', giving it a much-needed makeover. The tale became much more mature, much darker and realistic. 'Siren's Price' follows my remade 'Alchemy', so I don't see much point in posting the new version of 'Alchemy'. I will, however, continue to write for a certain adorable couple.

Just for fun, I'm going to say I wrote this with the RE5 version of Chris Redfield in mind. I know no one likes that model of Chris, but I do. I think he's adorable, bwah ha. XD

If you haven't figured it out yet, this tale features boy/boy elements. If you're even the least bit uncomfortable with boy/boy action, yaoi or what have you, DO NOT READ THIS.

If you're even the least bit uncomfortable with boy/boy action, yaoi or what have you, DO NOT READ THIS.

Disclaimer: If I owned Resident Evil, Claire would host yummy fangirl parties on a daily basis.

Happiness always spread over his face as sunshine blossomed across snow-capped mountains. "He's my boyfriend," he told her, eyes glowing with pride. Leon grimaced as if he had just been given a plate of rotten fish.

"No I'm not."

He turned to him, looking as if all of his dreams had been broken. "What?"

The Kennedy's face and voice were equally firm. "I said I'm not your boyfriend."

"I...I d-d-don't understand. What you are, then? What are we?"

"Soulmates," the President's bodyguard replied, a smile spreading across his face. He and his soulmate were spread across an eternity of silence, mind devoid of thought but hearts overflowing. "I'll be more than happy to paint your picture, you lovebirds," the young woman said, glowing over the miracle she had just witnessed. It wasn't everyday she got to see the makings of a fairy tale.

After all, she was living in a rather complex world.

He was at Disneyland, a place he never thought he'd visit-until his life was turned inside out. He needed to relax with the BSAA forces, and according to Claire Redfield, Mickey Mouse's homeland was the ideal place for relaxation. It was also an ideal place for romance, and she was over-the-moon about blossoming fields of roses. In the past he would have pushed her away in protest, but after everything he had endured, he gave not a single complaint.

After all, he had been reborn. He was no longer the Leon Scott Kennedy of the past.

Who was he in the past? Well, that answer didn't require a lot of effort to give. He was an egotistical hermit crab, closed off to the world around him. His mindframe was normally attributed to those of a much older age, but he was one of a kind. As the President's bodyguard he worked alone, shunning the idea of having a partner. He was even more venomus towards the idea of falling in love, believing 'love' to be nothing more than a child's game. He became a regular heartbreaker, instantly dismissing everyone that gave him even a wink. Ada couldn't even gain any ground.

When confronted by one of the President's secretaries, he merely shrugged and gave her the following answer.

"What's the problem? I prefer to keep my mind on my work. I'm devoting myself to one and only one man. You and I both know who that is. I'm not one for gambling."

He walked down the hall without another word, leaving his co-worker with a smile on her face. Not another thought was devoted to the game of love, and if anyone approached him with even a grin, they were instantly repelled.

So that was the Leon Scott Kennedy of the past. What made him the Leon of the present? Claire and Rebecca were more than happy to share the story. If it had been up to them to write the novelization, it would have started off with 'once upon a time'. Claire's brother, who happened to be her last link to family, vanished into thin air. Missing for weeks on end, he aroused a great deal of distress-the strongest distress coming from Claire. In desperate need of assistance, she issued a request for help to the White House, asking for her old colleague. Leon's superior promptly delivered the request to its recipient, and it was answered in equally swift form.

Leon and Claire restored old memories, working side by side to recover the lost Redfield. Claire followed him as a hopeful, doting puppy, while he looked after her as a mother bird protected one of her own. He comforted her whenever she was overtaken by despair, wondering if her brother had been killed. He protected her from the line of fire, even endangering his own life to secure her. He was a blanket, and she was a bird with broken wings, trapped in the middle of a rainstorm.

As their assignment drew on, the two of them discovered Chris's horrific fate. Albert Wesker, emerging from the black void of death, whisked his old enemy right out of an assignment. Chris's fellow BSAA mates were responsible for reporting his disappearance, but none of them knew what had happened to their beloved commander. Claire didn't know whether to prefer the absence of knowledge, or the discovery of firm knowledge. Knowing her brother was in Wesker's hands didn't exactly bring her bundles of joy. Leon was hardly familiar with Wesker, only learning of him through Chris's old reports. However, seeing the way Claire reacted to his name, he vowed to erase the bastard off the face of the earth.

After a serious of life-threatening events, the two of them were reunited with Chris. The reunion was anything but joyous, thanks to the lost Redfield's condition. Claire's brother seemed to be on the verge of death, thoroughly beaten and infected with a new brand of bug. Chris was promptly taken into the custody of Leon's forces, and rushed to Intensive Care. Only a few hours passed before the Redfield was released, after dogged persistence. He regained consciousness, quickly learned of his rescuers, and pretty much begged for the chance to help them.

Leon was hesitant to accept Chris as a member of the anti-Wesker team. Of course he had been tormented by the malicious, blood-sucking parasite, but he had barely awakened from what could have been a coma-or death. Claire, true to form, wanted nothing more than her brother to accompany them, and Chris wasn't willing to give himself any slack. There wasn't any time to sit around! Not with Wesker on the loose!

With a great deal of reluctance, Leon allowed Claire's brother on board. He vowed to send him right back if he showed any signs of suffering. The vow became even stronger once the Kennedy discovered details about Chris's condition. Wesker had infected him with some sort of mind-controlling parasite, one that had latched itself onto his brain. Wesker was able to gain a great deal of pleasure, thanks to his latest creation, and its effects on Chris were obvious.

To add salt to injury, the parasite was still inside its host.

Leon played the part of the adamant, stern father, while Claire played the part of the frantic mother. Both of them argued over the other Redfield's condition, but the wounded bird won out in the end. He assured both of them he'd be fine, having suppressed most of the parasite's power. The strongest side effect he suffered from was severe exhaustion.

The Kennedy, resigning himself to defeat, vowed to watch over Claire's brother. He honored that vow day in and day out, working with him to regain control whenever the parasite lashed out. Chris showed him appreciation on a frequent basis, heartbreakingly grateful for Leon's support.

Leon did nothing to repel the gratitude.

As he had been Claire's blanket, he was Chris's shield. Human shield. He intentionally threw himself in harm's way, taking every opportunity to protect the muscular Redfield from harm. As the three of them edged closer to Wesker, two particular members of the team edged closer together. Chris kept thanking Leon, Leon kept repeating his vow to protect him, and Claire couldn't stop smiling.

Things were going her way.

The final dance with Wesker eventually arrived. Leon defended Chris from Wesker in a way that brought tears to Claire's eyes.

"Look, smug son of a bitch. I hardly know you, but I do know this. If you were willing to put someone so gentle and pure through such torment, you're nothing but a blood-sucking asswipe!"

Wesker, of course, wasn't the least bit bothered by Leon's insult. He was actually enchanted with it, smiling after the insult's delivery.

"Hmm. Rather fiesty, aren't you? It would be a waste to let your beauty slip by. You and Chris would make a rather fine pair of fuck buddies! I'd be the happiest man alive, sucking the two of you dry!"

Since he had already sucked Chris dry on a thousand counts, Leon felt he had every right to beat the living shit out of him. And so he charged right at him-just as Jill had done on that fateful day.

He fell right out of the window, just as Jill had done on that fateful day.

Carrying Wesker.

While the two Redfields desperately pursued him, he did his best to keep up his end of the duel. He was, after all, facing the world-renowned Albert Wesker, and falling from what felt like a thousand feet hadn't done his body any favors. Wounded in what felt like a million places, he summoned the remnants of his strength to pummel his opponent. "You're obviously interested in Chris," the blood-sucking vampire purred, lashing out at his opponent with inhumane strength. Leon felt strength ebb out of him with every one of Wesker's successful attacks.

"I wish you had been there to see him, mewling and whimpering, begging for more of my rock-hard cock! If you could only feel the ecstasy I felt, pumping myself, cramming myself into his tight hole! And watching him masturbate? That brought me the greatest joy a man could ever experience!"

Leon said nothing. There weren't any words to deliver in retaliation, for they didn't exist. And even if they did, it would have been a waste of time to deliver them. All of his energy needed to be focused on attacking. Anger, at that point, was far more affective in the form of physical damage.

He knew it. He knew Wesker was spouting off a bunch of bullshit. Chris didn't do any of that willingly. It was all the fault of that stupid, blood-sucking parasite. Wesker had raped Claire's precious brother over and over again, paying no attention to him, not caring if he cried out in pain-

The Kennedy cursed his lack of Chris's muscles. The Redfield might have been a better match for his tormentor. He was able to get in a few punches and kicks, but Wesker outclassed him by leaps and bounds. Things quickly elevated to a rather dangerous point, destroying Leon's vision and comprehension skills. He lost the ability to tell where Wesker's attacks were landing, lost the ability to decipher Wesker's location-

Claire and Chris awakened him. Claire mentioned something about a broken leg, and Chris was stroking the side of his head. His weeping sister contacted someone about 'extensive injuries', 'critical condition', and 'emergency'. Chris said Wesker was out of the picture, but he couldn't celebrate. He could hardly move. Ragdolls weren't ever able to move, let alone speak. But he managed to sputter out something.

"In all my days, I never thought it would happen."

"What?" Chris asked, face akin to the face of a heartbroken widow.

"Never thought I'd fall in love. Always dismissed it to be a game, something drawn out in soap operas. Never cared for it. But...you came along and changed everything. You brought me to life."

"I'm really sorry about what he put you through, Chris. Wish I could have played my part better. Wish I could have rescued you on my white horse. That's how it was supposed to go, right?"

He heard Chris's sobbing and Claire's wails, but their voices were distant. His eyes shut, and for a few moments, he was dead. Claire's brother resucitated him with CPR, and medics rushed onto the scene moments after. Of course he understood very little of what was going on, as his mind was blurry, overwhelmed by pain and the side effects of interrupted eternal slumber.

According to the world, he slept for two months. In those months his leg healed, and visits were paid to him on a frequent basis. Chris paid him private visits, Claire visited him with Rebecca and his coworkers...the world went on, awaiting his return. He eventually awakened, and was welcomed by a million pairs of open arms.

By that point, both the BSAA and President's forces were well aware of the newest love story. After learning of his eventual awakening, Claire and Rebecca spread their most favorite love story around. The BSAA issued a profoundly warm 'thank you' letter to the President, thoroughly grateful for Leon's supportand devotion towards one of their own.

The President himself responded with an equal amount of warmth, thanking them for having such a wonderful man on their team.

The story soon leaked out from the two forces, taking root in the outside world. Two maidens nourished the abundant exposure, happy to see how the world pretty much ate and drank the story of two lovebirds. Leon's room was flooded with 'get well' and 'congratulations', most of the gifts coming from rapid fangirls. They were not only fans of his divine, godly appearance, but fans of his new relationship as well.

Speaking of fangirls, the President's daughter soon joined forces with Rebecca and Claire. She lead the fangirl charge, showering both Leon and Chris in congratulatory kisses.

"I don't think she should be allowed near your brother. I don't know what she'll do to him."

"Aw, don't worry. She's fine! I think she's a sweetheart!"

Leon scowled as Claire gushed over Ashley. "She snapped pictures of me without permission, and has them hanging all over her room," he explained, very much like a disgusted cat. "She used her father's security cameras to snap pictures of me taking a shower! Do you honestly think we can trust her to be around Chris?!"

"Oh phoo. She's harmless. You should learn to be nicer to her!"

Once again, the Kennedy resigned himself to defeat. Claire vowed to be the best of friends with Ashley, Ashley continued to fawn over Chris, and all was well. Leon treated her as if she were Wesker's daughter, but his concerns were dismissed.

Not even the President paid any attention to him, so what was the point? Ashley was Ashley, and would forever remain Ashley. Rapid, dangerous, annoying Ashley.

Another set of concerns were also dismissed, and they related to Chris. After the rescued Redfield relayed his period of captivity to the medics, everyone (including Claire) repeatedly asked him if he required therapy. And everytime he turned down therapy, only concerned with Leon's condition.

"I'm fine. Yes, what I went through was Hell on Earth, but everything's all right now. Just focus on Leon."

He was only worried about Leon. He made that perfectly clear, and everyone accepted that. In mere minutes, the focus shifted from Chris's therapy to Leon's life. The question of therapy aroused after Leon's release, as the Kennedy surprisingly suffered from nightmares that should have been Chris's. He was diagnosed with a severe case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, expressing an almost obsessive desire to stay near the Redfield, and frightened of losing him. As it turned out, he was forced to watch Wesker torment Claire's brother, while he was close to death himself. He cried out in his sleep, tossed, turned, and was comforted by a loving Chris every night.

After the third round of nightmares, the two Redfields took Leon in to be diagnosed. The doctor suggested taking him 'out of his element', which brought Disneyland into the picture. Leon required a change of pace, and everyone needed to relax, so Disneyland was the prime candidate for a vacation. A collection of BSAA officers, the President's right hand man, and the President's daughter enjoyed Disneyland together, frequently using Space Mountain and the Indiana Jones ride. Rebecca and Sherry Berkin married the churros, Claire and Chris shared flavored ice, and Leon had his picture taken with Captain Hook.

Day three of Disney magic rolled around. Sheva Alomar, having learned all about a certain pair of lovers from Rebecca, was the first to suggest quality bonding time for them. Chris, true to form, protested.

Leon sat in the midst of cluttered protests and encouragement, looking as if the world had become intolerably boring.

Which was his way of fighting against Chris's protests.

The two of them went off together, romping through Disneyland's uncharted magic. Chris took a rather strong shine to pretty much everything, and Leon couldn't stop staring at him.

The stares weren't venomous.

They turned heads everywhere they went. Chris's face read 'wow, everything here is amazing', while Leon's read 'I'm madly, wildly, dangerously in love with this bouncy grizzly bear'. They eventually ended up in Downtown Disney, wanting their picture to be painted.

And that was when Leon brought up the word 'soulmate'.

He looked over himself in the mirror. Dressed in only the best, he was primed and ready for the night. The BSAA force had invited him to their annual gala, which was about to take place on Main Street. His black and silver mafia outfit tied in with their theme perfectly, as the BSAA officers had been asked to dress in similiar manner.

He hadn't seen Chris yet, which made him as if they were preparing for a wedding.

He had fallen victim to everything he repelled in the past. He turned on love songs without thinking. He sang them without thinking. He became uncharacteristically giddy after making love. Chris couldn't stop blushing after having sex, and Claire couldn't stop snickering. Rebecca couldn't stop laughing, and Ashley continuously vowed to plant cameras in their bedroom.

Rebecca attributed Leon's giddiness to Chris's 'endowment'. Claire attributed it to everything. Ashley kept trying to figure out how to arrange the cameras in Leon and Chris's bedroom.

"Are you ready, or should I wait a few moments?"

"You don't have to wait any longer, Sheva. I'm ready."

The Alomar popped into the bathroom, scantily clad in a tight, dark blue mafia suit. "Took you long enough," she said, her warm voice pouring itself into his heart. "What were you doing in here, dreaming?"

"I'm always dreaming," the Kennedy said, straightening his black hat. He turned to her, making sure his silver feather was properly placed. She chuckled at him, brown eyes twinkling.

"You know, if you continue to float on clouds, people are going to think you're under the influence of something."

"I am under the influence of something," Leon said firmly, strengthening his previous tone. "No, I take that back. I'm under the influence of someone, and that someone's name is Chris Redfield."

Right then and there, a smile spread its wings and flew across his face. "Can't believe I've been invited to this little shindig," he said, trying to suppress the giddiness in his voice. Pink petals pierced the insides of his cheek, and all barriers against rapture crumbled. "Never been invited to a party before."

"Well now, you never thought you'd fall in love either. But look at you. You can't ever stop smiling, can you?"

Leon said nothing, still smiling.

"Have you seen him yet?" Sheva asked with her own smile, putting her hands on her curvy hips. Leon shook his head.

"Nope, but he's with Jill and Claire, so he's in good hands."

The grin of a thief took flight in her eyes. "You're really going to go through with it, aren't you?" she asked mischievously, and he gave her a wink.

"Of course I am. It's the perfect night. There will be stars, fireworks, music, dancing, we'll all be there-why wait?"

"No one ever said anything about your prowess as a violinist," the Alomar said, watching him as he walked out of the bathroom. "You're going to blow a few heads off with your little concert. Especially since I'm the only one that knows about it."

Leon's smile became so tight, it was painful to keep up. The trip to Disneyland came after two weeks of relaxation with Chris, and within those two weeks, Leon made a very important decision.

He realized he would rather die than wake up to the sight of anyone else's face.

And so, with that in mind, he planned out something equally important. The invitation to the BSAA's Annual Gala followed his surge in devotion quickly, and with it, he plotted the most diabolical scheme ever to be hatched.

Well, actually, it was just the most beautiful plan to ever be hatched.

"If you must know," the Kennedy said, lowering a certain case from a shelf. "I taught myself how to play after the Raccoon City case. Had to do something to keep myself sane, so I practiced. Morning, noon and night. Crossword puzzles just wouldn't have worked out for me."

"What did you two do to the bed?" Sheva asked, wide eyes focused on the bare bed. Beaming from sea to shining sea, Leon turned to her with an explanation.

"Oh, about that. Uh...well, it started off like this. After we annihilated the sheets a couple of times, I said we should just gump it without 'em. It wasn't fair to have Housekeeping wash 'em over and over again. Of course I should have expected Chris to retaliate, which he did. I suggest blindfolds, but that didn't work either."

"So they're dead, then?" the Alomar asked, pretending to be mournful. Her eyes betrayed her false grief, incredibly warm and always roguish. "The sheets are gone? You animals."

"They aren't dead-just in the hospital tailored specifically for abused sheets," the Kennedy replied, chuckling. "We're washing them ourselves from now on. Housekeeping swore up and down they didn't mind, as they were suffering from the rapid fangirl infection, but I just thought it would be nice to handle our own laundry."

"I take it you won't be using them tonight, then?"

"We won't even make it to the bed," Leon answered instantly, shuffling through the refrigerator of his suite. Out came a bottle of vitamin water. "If all goes well, he won't be walking for a week."

"What if it doesn't?"

"Then I'll burst into tears and become a hermit. Want one?"

Sheva, bearing the world's brightest smile, shook her head. "Are you nervous?" she asked gently, her voice bearing a mother's love. Leon turned to her, looking as if nothing in the world could bother him. "Damn right I am," he said, betraying the nonchalence of his eyes.

"How can I not be? This is my first concert, after all, and I'm serenading someone. I feel like keeling over and dying already."

Without another word, both Sheva Alomar and Leon Scott Kennedy walked out of the room. Leon closed the door behind them, unaware of the cameras that whirred beneath a bed, in the bathroom, and on the ceiling.

This was composed to the romantic sounds of my first crush/love, Chris Botti. I was going to have Leon take the role of 'trumpeter', but the violin is a much more romantic instrument in my eyes. Someone will play alongside him with a trumpet. XD

Leon's mafia suit, which I discovered in a wallpaper he shares with Ashley, inspired the mafia-themed BSAA event.

Thank you not only to the recent reviewer of 'Alchemy', but to the author behind the original 'Chris being infected by a mind sucking parasite' story. The parasite element of this was inspired by that author's work. If only I could remember the name of that story, let alone the author's name! But I read it, loved it, and will always love it. All credit for the parasite goes straight to that author-whoever it is...

And as always, I thank everyone for their support.