Love Override
Chapter 3: Requiem for the fallen
Author's note :
I am trying to figure out exactly what it is that 'the breaking game
' and 'shadowplay have that the other fics are is at this point about my questioning my own writing abilities more than anything . . .gimme some insight guys .Also,I'm gonna stop these damn Resident Evil fics . .it's just that that's what I'm playing now .
"Okay ,what's the occasion ,you cheap bastard .You never spend this much unless it's important " ,Chris said .Albert for his part was nervous ,so very nervous .Most people couldn't tell ,but Chris could .The way he was restless , running his hands through his hair and averting his gaze even with the damn shades on which was just ludicrous .
"I wanted to ask you something very important " ,he said ,still looking away . They entered a rather pricey café ,someplace Chris never thought he'd be in ,in a part of town he had no idea even existed .He was glad he took Al's advice and dressed nicely .
While Chris was enamored with the amazing lighting ,the amazingly good quality of the leather in the booths and the wealth that saturated everything ,music he never heard ofand feeling like he didn't belong , Albert was losing it completely . He looked like he was fine , but his heart pounded hard in his chest and he wanted and more than anything , he wanted to flee the scene immediately .
"How much do you love me?" ,Albert asked .Chris snapped to attention now ,looking confused .
"A lot ,silly" , he said , reaching for Albert's hand . It did nothing but made him feel worse . A small nervous smile and Albert removed his shades .
"Alright then .I decided we should . . .go away somewhere .Just you and I " ,he said .
"What do you mean by that?" ,Chris said .
"I…I want to spend my life with you ,Christopher" ,he said .
Chris completely froze up at this .
Without his shades on ,Albert's every emotion shown as plain as day .Fear ,anxiety ,worry ,so much etched into his handsome features making him actually look his age for once .
"I…I don't know what to say " ,Chris said , suddenly releasing his hand
"Say yes" ,Albert pushed .
"I . . . I don't know about this…I . ."Chris was at loss for words .
"So you don't…love me " ,he said ,pensive .
"I do ,but-"
"Chris ,do you know how old I am? I'm forty ,or at least I will be come December .At my age ,when we date someone ,we play for keeps unless we're sneaking around on someone at home .I don't have anyone else at home" ,Albert said sharply .
"We have been together nearly three years" ,Albert pressed .
This was a bad idea ,a horrible decision . He remembered Barry telling him to not date his co-workers and like a dumbass ,he went ahead and started fucking his boss and then falling in love and moving in and-
"Can I help you two gentlemen? "the waitress said . She was short ,and pretty and curvy ,with dyed blonde hair cut short .Exactly the kind of girl Chris would like ,which grated on Albert's nerves more .
"Yeah-"
"In a few minutes ,miss" ,Albert cut in .
'You are NOT getting out of this ,Chris'
"Listen ,can we not talk about this now? I mean we're at this nice place ,with this great food and-"
"And I'm footing the bill ,I call the shots .And I saywe talk about it now" ,he said ,his tone completely changed .
"What do you want from me?" ,Chris asked ,frustrated .
"I hear that certain laws will be in place soon ,in certain areas .I'm asking you to marry me" ,Albert said .
Chris felt like he had been hit with a bucket of ice water and immediately drew back .
"What?" ,he said .
"You heard me ,I said I want to get married" ,Albert said .
Shock ,shock and horror .Chris had no idea he was playing himself into this and they were both men …
"No! " ,he said more forceful than he meant to ,but the look on his face said everything .Albert moved his hands from the table and looked away .He could already feel the tears at the brims of his eyes and the seething anger turned his face visbly red .
"I mean…it's not that I don't care about you-"
"I get it .I'm not a woman ,I could never be a woman ,a wife the mother of your children .I put a wrench in your plans ,I see .But tell me this…why the FUCK did you wait two years to tell me this?" ,Albert snapped .People were looking now and Chris noticed it all too well ,while Albert was trembling in rage .
"I never thought about it before ,but now-"
"That was rhetorical fucking question ,you ass" ,Albert cut in ,rising from his seat .
"Hey ,hey…calm down" ,Chris said ,cautiously ,not wanting to cause a scene .
"Don't you tell me to calm down .Ypu're just a child,I should have known better " ,he said .He was ready to leave but Chris grabbed his writs .Albert though ,yanked it away so fast that Chris fell forwad knocking over the glasses of water the waitress had given them .
Albert was disillusioned at this point .He was completely and utterly lost .That's how he was feeling .When he left the place ,the anger came like a thunder storm and now he was left to drizzle ,the anger having burned out when he ran off and took a run through the park .He had stopped in front of a tre…their tree .The one that Chris had tried to carve their names in but got mad and gave up .leaving a 'C+A' there instead .Albert took out a pocket knife and in a fluid motion X'd it out .After that ,he lit up a cigarette and continued to wander his way through the park ,then through the city .
By the time Chris had caught up to Albert ,he was out of breath ,his lungs burning and pissed at having run off .
"Al?! What the hell?! I was looking for you all fucking day!" ,he said .
"For what?! I'm not your fucking boyfriend ,Chris" ,Albert said .Chris was once again angry and confused .
"What the hell? We're breaking up now? For what?!" ,Chris said .
"Because I refuse to waste my time with you any longer .If we're not going to take the next step than it's pointless to continue" ,Albert said ,sitting back om the bench .He lit up another cigarette embers burning in the dark sky .
"So what we had was a 'waste of time'? It all meant nothing?" ,Chri said in disbleif .Albert flicked some ashes to the ground ,and refused to look his way .
"You said it ,not me" ,he said .Chris sighed ,and rubbed his temple .
"Look ,we can start over ,Al .We can .I care about you it's just-"
"I could care less what the reason is .As I said ,we are no longer in a relationship .You are of no use to me any longer and I am of no use to you" ,Albert said .
"Because I said no…I don't even know ,I might-"
"Yes or no answer ,Chris" ,Albert said ,finally turning to face the younger man; .
"Do you want to marry me?" ,he said .Blue eyes ,red from tears were looking back at Chris and pulling at his heart .He could not give an answer .
"Then it's settled .Have your things packed by the time the week is over .We will not speak of what happened between us anylonger .Thuis is a strictly professional relationship now .Goodbye ,Chris" ,Albert said .
"But Al-"
"I said beat it ,punk .Do you want me to make you?" ,Albert warned .
"Guess you don't got a choice because I'm not going anywhere" ,Chris said ,crossing his arms .Albert sighed .
"Alright then .Remember you brought this on yourself" ,he said ,tossing his cigarette and stomping on it .Chris watched as Albert stood up ,eyed him uo and down ,and he glared right back .Before Chris could react ,Albert punched him in the jaw ,sending him reeling .Chris caught himself on the chair ad recovered .He thrwew a punch at Albert who dipped back and hit him so hard in the stomach ,he was on the ground .
"You disappoint me ,Chris .Like I said ,pack your shit or I will" ,he said ,coldly .Chris was struggling to stand and Albert had turned away ,not even looking back
It was a nightmare , a living nightmare .None of them were the same after it happened . Rebecca stopped speaking , Jill had a permanent frown fixed so harsh into her features that it seemed she were born that way .Barry was never around anymore .But Chris took it worse than anyone .
While they were in the hospital , he was in a state of shock , catatonic .
'You did this Chris .I told you to choose and you did .You denied me , so you and all of your friends . . . you are no longer of any use to me'
'If we you had only listened , if you went away with me ,this could have been avoided .All of it .You forced me to do this !'
'You could've left on your own-'
'You don't understand! You could never understand . . . .'
'You did this . . . '
Wesker's voice was in his head and refused to go away .
'We could run away together . . . ' ,he had said .
And if he had said yes ,Albert…no Wesker .He wasn't Albert anymore …no ,he stopped being that when they broke up .He was Wesker again ,because it was 'more appropriate' ,seeing as he was his boss and all .
If Chris had said yes , Wesker would have skipped out on the mission altogether .He even had resignation papers ready .But Chris had always known he wanted to marry a nice lady , raise up the family that he and Claire use to have years ago .
But if he knew what he knew now . . .
But it was too late .
The funeral service was entirely too long .Worse ,it was all a lie ,a sham .
'Died in a fire my ass! We all knew what happened at that place' ,Chris thought as he stood with the rest of the officers in dress uniform .Black slacks ,black coat ,silver buttons and black caps made it hard to spot the others . .
And for a moment ,he thought of how incredibly stunning Wesker looked in his uniform ,the first time Chris saw him .He remembered coming in to apply for the job and being awed at the incredibly handsome blonde man who promised him a personal interview .Chris joked that he'd stay on the team so long that he'd be seeing Wesker off in his uniform because Wesker looked so young for his age and they both agreed jokingly he'd be like a hundred before he retired .
Now though ,now he was dead and it was way before a hundred years old and in wasn't even remotely funny .
From where he stood ,he could see Chief Irons at the podium ,hardly heard what he said because there was nothing but bullshit coming from his mouth .Irons didn't believe a word of what they told him and he invented a false story ,a cover up .And the remaining STARS members had to go along with it too .
He was glad when it was all over .
Everyone else was long gone now ,everyone except the STARS members .But Chris was the one that lingered in the rain ,lingered over the grave sight .He had been standing there forever ,Jill knew that much .The rest of them were talking about their plans for the future ,but not Chris .He was standing in the rain ,still in front of the grave site ,directly in front of Wesker's grave .He was so still and sold and rigid , that it seemed as though he were a tombstone himself .The only movements he ever made was putting out a cigarette and replacing it with another.
"There are no bodies here" ,he said when Jill approached him .
"I know " ,she said quietly .He dropped his cigarette on Wesker's grave like the rest of them and stomped it out .
"We never even gave them a proper fucking burial!" ,he said ,the sobs still evident in his voice .
"We have to go now" ,she said .
"And go where?!" ,he said .
"Brad suggested we go to back to the office ,while everyone's still out and about and get evidence" ,she said .
"Knowing that son of a bitch Wesker ,there probably ain't a damn thing to find" ,Chris said bitterly .
"I know…but you have the keys to his apartment" ,she said .He looked at her shocked .
"You knew . . . " ,he said .Jill with her perpetual frown nodded and sighed .
"I knew for a long time…at first I thought it was Rebecca he was with ,what with the picture of her in his desk and all…but then I saw you two at a diner and I kinda followed you and…I'm sorry ,I just didn't know what to think .I thought he was handing you a promotion or something and wanted to surprise you with something nice…but I was wrong" ,she said , clutching her arms nervously .
"Jill …I'm so sorry ,I didn't mean to fuck everything up" ,he said .
"Don't apologize for what he did" ,she said .Chris shook his head ,and the tears were coming back .He kept a straight face and wiped them away .
"No…you don't understand .H-he wanted me to run away with him and skip out on the whole mission!" ,he said .
Jilll stood there shocked and confused .She couldn't and wouldn't believe it .And yet he said it was ,he admitted to this being on him .
"What? I-I don't understand . ." ,she said .
"He had resignation papers …and was going to disband the STARS and send us to different precincts" ,he said .
Jill couldn't believe what she was hearing .She was torn now ,lost .And piece of her was starting to hate Chris more and more by the second .It was only when she reached her had into her pocket,let the silver and black necklace slide against her hands did she feel some releife .But even then . . .
"And I said no .I-I told him that I couldn't be with him … .that I couldn't be with another man that way and he just…God I'm so sorry ,it's my fault Jill! I didn't know the place would be overrun with monsters .If I just said yes to him .If I wasn't so fucking selfish ,they'd all still be alive!" ,Chris said .
"E-even Wesker" ,Chris added softly .Jill 's jaw clenched , her fist balled up ,hands trembling .She sighed though and kept her cool and silenced the blinding rage that had overtook her being .
"Just…just don't tell the others .I can't face them like this" ,his voice pleaded ,but Jill's eyes were on the ground ,her hair falling to her face .With all that was left in him ,she pulled him into a hug .
"Alright Chris .I won't" ,she said ,clinging to him .
She had to love him…really she did .Because if she didn't she'd kill him dead
"Park here" ,Chris said to Brad who was sitting quietly beside him .In his eyes ,he could see absolute dread in them .Brad was always kinda dreary looking ,with the way the shadows cast under his eyes and his low eyebrows ,but now ,he just looked…he looked empty .Brad said nothing and parked the car on the side of the pavement .
"I'll be back and I'll radio in if anything goes wrong" ,he said .
"Alright" ,Brad said .Chris stepped out of the vehicle and pulled his overcoat . . .Wesker's coat .He closed to hide his dress uniform .
"Sit tight ,okay? And contact me if you need anything: ,Chris said ,giving his shoulder a firm squeeze . Brad simply nodded and 'Hmm'd ' before Chris shut the door .As soon as the car pulled off, Chris was lighting up again and strolling down the pavement .A part of him wanted to be nowhere near this place, nowhere near the old apartment that 'he' stayed in .It was only the desire for answers, an answer as to why this happened that changed his mind .
Chris tossed out his cigarette and ran as fast as he could to the apartment .As crooked as Umbrella was ,there was a high chance of them having sent someone to the apartment to go and clean up after Wesker ,make sure there was no evidence of anything to incriminate them in any way ,shape or form .
Breathlessly ,Chris mentally cursed himself for smoking his troubles away .He looked around to see who else was around and no one seemed to be there .Still though , he had to hurry ,had to be quick .Chris made a run for the stairs .
He didn't care now that people heard him running in the halls ,didn't care that that nosy old bitch Mrs .Mathers was looking out of her room again .He just glared at her and ran right pass to get to Wesker's place .As soon as he got to the brown door ,room number 213 ,he jammed his keys into the door ,only to find the door was open .
Chris paused .Ever so slowly ,he returned the keys to his pocket ,clutching them so they wouldn't jingle .Reaching for his holster ,Chris quietly pushed the door open .He was on alert now ,eyes scanning every nook and cranny of the living room with sharp eyes .
Nothing was out of place .
Suddenly ,a low scratching sound reached his ears making him jump and putting him on alert once more .
"Mew?" ,he heard and looked down to see the black furred ,blue eyed cat that Albert kept because their eyes were the same exact shade .
"Shhhh! Go away ,Eva" ,he said .She merely purred and approached Chris .He sighed and scooped up the cat ,dropping her into the coat closet and hoping whoever was here didn't hear them .
It was then that he heard the distinctive sound of footsteps in the apartment ,and it scared him shitless .
Wesker sounded just like that when he walked .
'No…no I saw him die…'Chris thought .The horrible image of that monster impaling him ,goring right into his abdomen through his back and throwing his corpse like a rag doll ,like he was nothing terrified Chris and made him sick to his stomach .But still ,he pushed on .He pushed on because he had to fix the mess he created .
Chris did a quick sweep of the place to ensure that no one was really there and to confirm that he was losing his fucking mind .No one was there ,not in the least , .just him and Eva ,who got out of the closet and was following him around the house .Chris locked the front door and got to work .
He checked all the drawers ,under fridges ,desks ,tables ,even checked for hollow walls and floors .There was nothing to be found ,nothing on Umbrella and nothing on Wesker .
'Of course he'd clean the place out before the mission' ,Chris said .
But then that's what disturbed him .
If he cleaned everything out ,even left the door open …and the number to the animal control center was left on the wall along with note saying give Eva a good home .
"He knew he was going to die" ,Chris said softly .
Wesker knew that in the end he was sacrificing himself .
'Or no…no ,or else he wouldn't have bothering even showing me that monster ,telling me anything ' .
Unless he had no idea his monster would turn on him .But if Wesker was such a brilliant scientist ,he would know something like this .
Something wasn't right ,Chris knew that much .But the fact of the matter is that he witnessed Wesker die and that was that .Whatever plans he had had failed and he died a pathetic death .Everything about it ,the monster turning on him ,the betrayal and the fact that in the end ,he still wanted Chris to be with him ,after denying him .After betraying him ,Wesker wanted Chris and that was that .
He died losing the one thing he wanted more than anything .
'And even if he died…he protected me' ,Chris thought .Wesker could have done Chris like he did Marini and shot him right in the back ,but he wanted Chris around ,he wanted him to be there .
He wanted to share his creation like a child showing of a crayon drawing or an artist showing a painting to a loved one .He wanted to show him the thing he worked so hard on ,that he valued .
He wanted Chris's approval .
Everything about what happened that night between them was some sick sort of nostalgia ,even when Wesker broke down and got angry at Chris for not liking something about him .It was odd how that incident reminded him of how Chris criticized Wesker for wanting to watch reruns of Star Trek instead of going to picnic with everyone else .He got mad ,petty and childish and told Chris to get out .Angry ,childish ,petty and ultimately without reason .
As he entered the bedroom ,Chris felt like he was stepping back in time ,into another life .He could still feel Wesker there ,still see him and Wesker in that bed ,Wesker on the left himself on the right .Or Wesker's trembling body beneath him ,or himself ,pulling the dark sheets from the bed with Wesker pinning him down .Or the times when there was no love making and just sex . Chris could feel the screws were loosened because really,both of them were tall and muscular and damn near two hundred pounds (though Chris had nearly twenty pounds on Wesker) shaking up he bed and . . .
'Mew?' ,Eva said .Chris sighed and looked down at the cat before petting her gently .Chirs wanted to kick himself for even thinking like that about a dead man .But sitting here,being here,being in this place,Chris could just 'feel' Wesker everywhere ,feel his very essence .All of this tsuff,his bad handwriting,his favorite yogurt in the fridge ,which Chris had grabbed but couldn't eat it because it
After tearing apart the bedroom ,Chris fell back onto the bed ,exhausted and Eva jumped up next to him .He frowned at the cat who lay down in the center…which would normally be between him and Wesker ,but there was no Wesker here now .Chris closed his eyes ,raking his nails through his hair .It was then ,that he heard the steps again and jumped up ,pulling his gun .He threw open the bedroom door and stumbled back in shock and horror .
"No…no ,no ,no! I saw you…I saw you die!" ,Chris yelled ,aiming his gun with shaking hands .
Albert Wesker was looking back at him ,blue eyes looking shocked .For a moment ,they stared ,and Chris lowered his gun .But just as he did ,the apparition that was Wesker stepped back and then in seconds ,he vanished right before Chris's eyes ,leaving wisps of black and then nothing .
He was gone .
Chris backed up until he fell back onto the bed ,his eyes still locked on that spot where his lover had been standing just seconds ago and then he just disappeared like a ghost .He never believed in such things ,but Rebecca did,oh so much .In fact,if memory served him right . . . all the survivors had one of Rebecca's charms with them ,even Chris himself .Sitting his gun on the bed ,Chris chuckled a bit ,then laughed .
"I'm really losing my mind ",he said .
He knew he had to hold it together,but if embracing it would let him have Albert back in his arms again,was it really such a bad thing ?
Chris popped open the yogurt,licked the top off and dropped it on the can .He patted the spot next to him and Eva slunk her way to Chris's lap .The metal spoon in hand,he closed his eyes and too the first bite .And he could see Albert beside Eva doing the same .
"That is complete bullshit, you know ",Chris said lying on his stomach .Albert was sitting cross legged on the other side of the bed, a book in his hand titled 'A Clockwork Orange ' .
"I am very serious .I got a low sex drive, I always did ",Albert said, flipping a page. Chris crawled over so that he was sitting against the headboard beside Albert .
"So someone as gorgeous as you decided to NOT sleep your way through life .I mean, you could have anyone you wanted ",Chris said .
"Maybe . . . but not necesarily the way I want them .Besides, I have desired very few people .I'm one of those weirdos who actually go by personality .And in that department,you win more than I do",Alber said. Chris rolled his eyes and gently nudged the book away from Al .
"So that's why you like me? I'm not hot stuff? ",Chris said, stripping off his shirt .
"I can honestly say you're the best looking person I have been with, male or female .I was an scrawny teenager with a bad slouch .I didn't get my looks until I was around twenty-three. I saw your highschool pictures thanks to Forest . You were luckier than me ",Albert said, trying not to eye Chris's body. A strong arm rested over the headboard and Chris scooted closer until him and Albert were touching .A gentle hand caught Albert by his chin and Chris turned his gaze to his own .
"Don't feel bad about it . . . just relax ", Chris said .Albert sighed and allowed Chris to pull him into a quick kiss .
"You want sex, don't you? ",Albert said .Chris chuckled .
"Now, why does it have to be all that? ",he said .
"Becausae ,I know you ",he said .
Chris gave Albert a smirk and slid a hand up his leg .
"Why doe sthat have to be a bad thing ?",he asked .
"It's not . . .just distractinng",Albert said,eyes back in the novel .Chris rolled hs his and promptly took the book away from him .
"Chris . . .",Albert warned .Chris just gave a playful mile and shoved Albert down on the bed,and lye down beside him .
"Relax,hm?",he said .As e lifted Albert's shirt,his hand trailed up his chest,giving him goosebumps .He rubbed one of his niples and Albert shuddered grabbing his hand .
"You want this as bad as I do",he said,his eyes looking downward .His hand slid back down to his stomach ,but Albert slid it lower . .
"Chris! Chris!",his eyes snapped open as he felt a rough hand on his shoulder .
"The hell,Brad?!",Chris said .
"You were gone like two hours,man",he said .Chris sighed and sat up .
"Fine,Whatever .You can go,I'll let you know when you nowif I need a ride",Chris said irritably .
"You sure?",Brad siad .
"Yeah,.I'm sure",Chris said .
"Mew", Brad looked down and saw Eva swishing her tail .
"Wesker had a cat?"",he said confused .
"Yeah and it's mine ,so back off ",he said .
"I don't want it .Cat's give me the creeps ,especially at night",he said ,stepping away .
"Why am I not surprised?",Chris said .
"And what's that suppose to mean?"CBrad demanded .
"Not now,Brad .I know there' s something here . . .I just have to-"
"If yo need help-"
"No . . . it's fine .Really",Chris said .
"Fine . . . just if you need anything Chris,we're all here for you .I'm just a bit concerned because . . ."
"I know . Do me a favor and check on Jill and Becky",Chris said .Bra frowned,but the idea of being in Wesker's home disturbed him .
"Don't have to ask me twice .I'll check up on you later",Brad said and was gone .
Chris waited until the sound of his boots hitting the stairs was gone,waited until the car drove off,before he sank back into the sheets ,curling into a ball .He could still smell Albert's cologne and his own mixed into the sheets and a stray strand of blonde hair lay right in front of his eyes .
He would never forget the image of Albert Wesker smeared against the floor in his own blood ,nothing more than a broken corpse .