Haha, what is consistency? This writer doesn't know it. This is another kinda wonky chapter where it's technically September but barely any time passed since the last chapter was at the end of August. \o/ praise chaos! let's get started.
Song Suggestion: Alone Together by Fall Out Boy
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing~ CapCom love you bby please don't sue :')
The weekend finally arrived and with it the first day of September. the last 4 days had been interesting. Chris with his newfound revelation quietly enjoyed his time with Emma, while mentally panicking over what to do. he tapped his thumb against the binding of the book he was reading before closing it and putting it down.
"I'm going to go for a run," Chris says getting up and walking out of the living room back to the study which Emma had graciously allowed him to use for the storage of anything he was able to salvage from his apartment.
"Kay," she says while sitting crosslegged on the other couch and typing away at a laptop. "I'll lock the door after you head out." the incident from last year still had her a bit shaken up about leaving the door unlocked really at any time.
Chris nods and goes to get some gym clothes from the cluster of items in the study-turned storage room before heading to the bathroom to change. he eventually walks back out. Emma was still furiously clicking away at the computer.
"Still working on that report?" he asks with a raised eyebrow.
"yeah I need to send in the results of the last marketing campaign by Monday," she says with a tired sigh, "This got a lot more difficult now that the new parent company gave us so many more contracts to manage. It feels like they're launching a new EP each week." As she explains this she takes a loose hairband from her wrist to pull back her hair enough to keep her hair out of her face.
Chris Chuckles a bit at that and nods "you got this, kick its ass," he says while walking to the door.
"Hell yeah," Emma says with a laugh and gets back to work before remembering something "OH! Don't forget your keys," she calls which causes him to stop, pat his pockets then turn around to get them.
"Thank you, trying this again. See you in a bit," he says and heads out, locking the door behind him before heading out of the building to the street to start his run.
Okay, time to himself to sort out his thoughts, he thought as he started making his way down the street. Where to start. He had 5 more days until he could go back to his apartment. which meant 5 days to figure out what to do... maybe he could just put this off a bit longer. He struggled with this whole, emotions thing. He knew that but, what was he supposed to do. How exactly did he go about explaining his change in intentions towards her when in all honesty, It... It kinda scared him.
That addition got him to run a bit faster. He could spend weeks on end fighting bioweapons and horrors. Things that would go bump in the night that would make anyone else run in fear but something so human-made him want to turn tail and run or just ignore it. it was better that way, it was easier that way. it didn't hurt that way. for the more of his carrier he spent his days watching the people he grew to know and care about get killed. 'kill them or be killed' accept that anyone you meet, know, or care about could be your next target. Friends. family. Any time he got close to someone they'd end up at death's door. It's what happened to Cathy and Sheva and Rebecca and Jill, multiple times. Hell, even his own sister gave him a few scares. That's not accounting for every time he went on a mission and came back the only survivor having had to watch his squadmates die and then kill them again if they got infected. Too many times has he had to go to a funeral look at a casket and know that the bullet holes in their body were because of him. Because he chose kill instead of be killed. Each and every time. Without hesitation.
He ran faster. How did he tell her that he was afraid of letting her get closer to him even if it's what he wanted because every time even when someone survived they'd usually leave in the end only to speak with him when the next infection was starting to spread. That it felt like a curse, no matter where he went death and isolation followed. How did he explain that by letting him into her life in the first place she put herself in more danger than it ever could have been in before and even then he wanted her to stay because she was willing to share the burden so maybe the plague that followed him would lessen even slightly. That she somehow made it go away for just a minute and let him breathe.
How could he ask for that much when he was lying to her. Thoughts of the recent lab incident came to mind. He may not be lying in the traditional sense but withholding information was in its own right a lie. He was lying to himself by saying he couldn't tell her because it was to protect her. that it was because of work. A convenient truth that allowed him to hide that he felt that if she'd at the very least resent him. If he was going to do anything. he'd have to tell her the truth first...
He ran faster. If he just stayed quiet. About all of this. Everything could keep going as it is. Continue saying 'it was work' and laugh. Stay neighbors, just be friends. eventually grow apart and send a postcard every once in a while for the holidays.
He stops to catch his breath. He'd been practically running for the last 30 minutes and sprinting the last few blocks. He moved to the side of the walkway to lean against the nearest wall and rested his hands on his knees as he hung his head and breathed.
And that's when he saw it, out of the corner of his eyes, two men looking away wearing black sunglasses hats, and windbreakers with familiar bold white letters on them. "You've got to be kidding me..." he says quietly, avoiding turning his head so they wouldn't see that he noticed them. for now, his thoughts would have to wait. he continued his run as if nothing had happened, made a turn here and there, and stopped every so often. yeah. they were tailing him. keeping a little more than a block and a half of distance, roughly 400 ft... "not again" he says and starts making his way back to the apartment. quickly heading up the stairs to unlock the door, closing it behind him and locking it again.
"Hey, how was your r-" Emma started only to get cut off.
"If anyone asks I'm not here," Chris says, immediately heading back to the cluttered study and closing the door behind him.
"Okay?" Emma replies with a confused tone and expression looking from the study to the front door. What on earth happened? It wasn't long after this that a knock was heard at the door.
Ring:[Alert - Motion Detected]
She opened the app to find two men in black hats and Sunglasses wearing black windbreakers that boldly proclaimed. CIA. What. The. Hell? Emma cautiously put her laptop down on the coffee table and walked over to the door to open it slightly. "Hi, can I help you?" she asks with a quizzical expression.
"Good afternoon ma'am we're looking for a Christopher Redfield, is he around?" The man on the left asks as the one on the right adjusts their hold on a manilla envelope with a classic red 'CONFIDENTIAL' stamp mark on it.
"I'm afraid I haven't seen him in some time," She replies
"We saw him enter the building ma'am" the man on the right replies. Shoot.
"Good for you," she says in response. "Pardon my curiosity. Did he do something wrong?"
"No ma'am, quiet the opposite actually," the one on the left states. "We're with the Recruitment division of the CIA. It's a matter of national security and we really need to speak with him," he says clearly not believing Emma in the slightest. curse her bad pokerface.
Emma stared bewildered. Chris what did you get into now? "I see, Well, last I heard he was some form of military. you should know how to reach him at work then," she points out with a frown but her statement caused the men to shift in place while giving a low short chuckle. "What's so funny?"
"I'm not sure who told you that but, he's not one of ours. Chris Redfield was dishonorably discharged from the air force back in 96 for insubordination, and his current, company, doesn't like day visitors. at least not the recruitment kind." the man on the right explains hoping that would be enough to get into the door and check the place.
I'm sorry what. "I see well. you learn something new every day. I'll leave you to your search then," she says with a nod and goes to close the door and lock it again before they can get in another word edgewise. once it was safely locked she leaned against the door and allowed herself to slide down it to sit on the floor. that was stressful...
Ring:[Alert - Motion Detected]
She gave a tired sigh and opened the app to see the two men were still there but were placing what looked like earbuds into their ears. Son of a. Are those eavesdropping devices? For the love of all that was holy. go away! I get it I can't tell a lie to save my life. an annoyed expression replaced emmas tired one as she gets up to go to her laptop, clicks away at it a bit before picking it up and walking to the island to get a bar chair then back to the door. she put down the chair and placed the laptop down on the chair. she pulled up the app again to see that the agents were still there.
Click.
DISRESPECT YOUR SURROUNDING!
The sound clip looped as she watched the agents quickly throw the devices out of their ears and onto the grounds clearly in pain.
with that Emma unlocked the door and looked at them with a frown.
"Gentleman, you're still here?" she asks clearly displeased "I hope you don't mind the noise, this always gets me amped up for my daily workout and smoothie," she says as a threat of more noise to come if they stay. Upon hearing that they pick up the devices from the ground and grumpily walk away. Once she's sure they left she locked up the apartment again and turned the music off. She leaves the chair and laptop by the door but sets her Ring camera alerts to priority before heading over to the study door and knocking on it.
"The big bad scary recruiters are gone," She says still frowning slightly as Chris opens the door. "So, are you going to tell me about what that was about or was 'work'," Emma says a bit annoyed. Chris gives a tired sigh.
"Alright... let's talk," he says and motions that they should head back to the living room. The two walked over to the couch, Emma took a seat and Chris sat next to her.
"So, Dishonorable discharge... you couldn't have corrected me when I said you were military over a year ago?" Emma starts off, that was such a simple thing to correct.
"that's." he paused and rests his elbows on his legs "yeah. I was 23 and a hothead."
"Still are," Emma says and he shakes his head.
"My commanding officer gave some orders I didn't agree with. I'm not one for blind loyalty. I refused. and the rest is history." He says with a shrug.
"Okay... so. what are you doing then? I mean I met your team. Hound Wolf Squad. that. sounds military to me... Mercenaries?" She asks trying to understand. he was gon all the time for missions. she never really had an issue with it, she just kinda always assumed they were the fight for the forces of good and justice kind not the highest bidder kind.
"That's" he starts and is once more cut off.
"Classified... right," Emma says with a sigh. "you say you're not one for blind loyalty but, you're asking for a lot of it from me..." she points out.
She was right. "It's... I work outside of the government for an international security agency under the approval of the UN." he says hoping that will work for now as he held his fist and tapped his thumb against it. "Look, If I could I would tell you more but, there's only so much I can say."
that was actually a bit comforting, okay so he wasn't just a gun for hire at least. the recruiters did say he didn't do anything wrong so, he was probably telling the truth. "International huh?" she says as her annoyed tone relaxed to a tired one. "that explains all the travel books."
Chris nods "it's not exactly a vacation."
"No, I can imagine not. you look like zombie every time you get back," she replies not realizing some of the truth in what she said.
You need to tell her, His subconscious rings in his ear. "There's something else I want to tell you but, I don't know if I should," Chris admits.
"Will you get into trouble if you tell me?" She asks in return.
"If I word it right, and you don't go sharing what I say. no," Chris admits with a tone of guilt. he was terrified but he couldn't turn back at this point.
"Okay," she says taking a breath, "What do you want to tell me?"
Chris paused to think over how to explain this. "It wasn't a gas leak... the lab incident."
"What?" Emma asks with a mix of shock and horror.
"I was there. We tried to help but your friend." he felt a soft impact as Emma had picked up a pillow and smacked him with it before getting up to try and walk away. He got up as well and reached out to grab her arm, only for her to use what he'd taught her to get out of his grasp.
"DON'T. Touch me." she says clearly trying to keep her anger in check.
"You. You were there the WHOLE time. You knew!" she said in an accusing tone though she didn't move to leave.
"He was already gone... I'm sorry" Chris says quietly.
Tears form once more in the corners of Emma's eyes. She hated this, she hated how much she cried. She hated how weak she felt. She how mad she felt. he was trying to be more open with her but why did it have to be that. She was mad that he didn't tell her but she was mad that he did. It hurt losing Tanner but finding out she could have lost more to that stupid explosion made the memory of the event sting that much more. He says he tried but why didn't that make her feel any better?
Strong gentle arms moved to hold her, she didn't push away this time instead she stayed still, eventually raising a fist and gently hitting it against his chest a few times. It wasn't fair. Eventually, her mouth rain dry as she became dehydrated.
"I'll find somewhere else to stay," Chris offers quietly causing Emma to quickly look up at him.
"I lost Tanner to that Stupid fire. I am not losing you too," she says with determination despite her voice cracking from being dry. "So don't you dare run away and hide like that... I'm mad at you...Livid frankly but. I don't hate you." It hurt that he didn't tell her but given how upset she's been about it. It made sense that he'd hesitate, even if that made her mad all the same.
hearing that she didn't hate him made him feel a bit lighter from the guilt he'd been holding. he gave her another gentle squeeze.
"...Hey Chris?" she says quietly.
"Hm?" he replies.
"You're kinda really sweaty and gross right now," she says as he remembered he had just been running for the last hour before all this. right. He let go of her."Go wash up," she says gesturing to the bathroom, " but leave some hot water, okay,"
"Right," he says and walks off to do that giving Emma some time to sit on the couch and process her thoughts on her own for a bit.
She was mad at him, but she had two options. be mad and never talk to him again which she was well in her right to do. or accept that he did end up telling her, accept the apology and allow them both to move on. if she was just going to hold this over his head and resent him, they were both better off going their separate ways... She didn't want to resent him. it would take a few days for her to completely cool off to be sure but in the end. she's just glad she didn't lose him too.
Chris eventually finished his shower and Emma took one as well. once her hair was dry she walked out of the bathroom over to the door and put on her flip-flops.
"Are you heading out?" Chris asks with a hint of concern.
"Yep, and you are too," she says as she walks over to the kitchen to get her purse. "This place needs some time to air out a bit, and after covering for you with the CIA recruiters I think you owe me ice cream," Emma explains with a nod.
Woo boi this was a roller coaster to write. I'd say that's officially a closed book on the Tanner arc. Emma Knows and with that one more barrier has been removed. October is going to be fun to write.
Review Responses:
InkScribbles: glad you got a good chuckle out of Chap 16 X'D I had way too much fun writing that string of curses. hopefully, you'll enjoy a nice mix of cackles and feels for this chapter. The next chapter should go back to solid cackle material.