Leon paced the ground, the paved area in front of the Cinema was shining from rainfall and a damp smell hung in the air, and it looked to Chris like the atmosphere of the evening was perfect; but Leon obviously didn't see it quite this way. He was pacing the floor, occasionally muttering to himself. Chris watched Leon critically, and unzipped his leather jacket before barking
"Leon! Stop worrying!"
Leon looked up.
"I'm not worrying"
"Jesus Leon, come on!" Chris replied, a little frustrated "You're pacing the floor so much you're wearing yourself into the ground, what's the problem?!"
Leon sighed.
"Is Claire coming?" he asked.
"Yes!" Chris exclaimed in exasperation "Yes Leon damnit, how many times does this need to be said! She and Jill WILL BE TURNING UP!"
"And…does she really like me…?" Leon asked.
"Leon" Chris sighed "If she didn't, she'd make it pretty clear by now"
"I mean really like…"
"The same. She doesn't go to the cinema with male friends unless that person's me, so you're safe"
"And…Steve?"
Chris winced. He'd hit on something of sore point there; Claire had mourned for Steve for ages after they'd come back from Rockfort Island, and so this was a fairly difficult subject to tackle…but Chris could see for himself that because Leon had been there for Claire so much, things had changed.
"Leon" Chris replied, flatly "Steve's dead. He isn't coming back"
Leon sighed.
"But does Claire see it that way?" Leon asked, softly.
"I'm pretty sure she does" Chris soothed "Cool it boy"
At this moment, there was a screeching of brakes; the pair of them turned to see a red car tearing around the corner, getting caught in a slide that thankfully failed to bury it in a lamp-post and then roared up to the car park space in front of Leon and Chris. The doors opened, and a somewhat shaken Jill Valentine climbed out of the car, followed by a protesting and irate Claire.
"The wheels are faulty!!" she fumed.
"Claire; you nearly killed us seven times!" Jill said.
"Oh yeah right" Claire pouted and sniffed.
"It's only a ten minute drive!" Jill persisted "It's not a motorbike Claire, you insane bike-bound maniac!"
"I take it the ride was less than serene?" Leon asked, bemused.
"It was fine" Claire said, sharply "Jill just doesn't have the stomach"
"I have the stomach" Jill replied, icily "But I very nearly didn't have the life"
"Um…ladies…" Chris worked his body in between them, much to Jill's pleasure but to Claire's eternal irritation "…can we avoid the arguing?"
"Okay" Leon said, "I'll get the tickets"
"I-I'll come with you" Claire managed, struggling forward and looping her arm around Leon – who blushed, deeply. She didn't quite know why she did that, she certainly hadn't planned it to happen.
"Looking forward to it?" Leon asked, as the pair of them joined the immense queue, looking at the slightly more eccentric members of the queue who were dressed appropriately as wizards and ringwraiths.
"Oh yeah" Claire replied, smiling enthusiastically "Should be cool!"
The auditorium was dark, but definitely not quiet; occasional shouts of 'My precious' and 'You shall not pass' could be clearly heard in the air. Leon, Claire, Jill and Chris worked their way into the back row, and settled into the deep, soft seats of the row.
"Ah, luxury" Chris sighed, sinking back "I'm paying for this, so be thankful"
"Yes oh master" Leon said with a smirk.
He and Claire sat next to each other, Chris and Jill doing the same thing.
"After an eternity of trailers, maybe the film will start" Leon said out of the corner of his mouth to Claire, who nodded in agreement.
Then, the lights dimmed and the audience went silent. Leon sat through the Prologue, the hobbit party and the Mines of Moria…then, he felt something touch his leg. To his surprise, it was Claire's hand…she wasn't looking at him, but her hand had not slipped. It was moving in total control down his thigh, gently clenching it…
Leon didn't say anything; he felt his heart thump hard in his chest, and gulped. What to do now? What to do now? Claire was making a move…logically, he should too…
Leon carefully slid an arm around Claire's shoulders, letting it drape there…he waited for repercussions in a cold sweat.
To his surprise, Claire put her hand on his and then leaned her head on his shoulder.
Leon smiled as he watched the film, feeling his muscles relax as he settled into this new position, Claire 's hand gently stroking his own. Leon couldn't help but feel like he'd scored…big time.
It was late evening. The audience filed out of the cinema, with Chris remarking what a brilliant film it had been and making his enthusiasm real with lots of leaping around and imaginary sword slashing, movement that made Jill giggle inanely, Claire look on in bemusement and made Leon cover his eyes out of fear of being recognised as somebody who knew this man.
"…And Aragorn, he was so cool!" Chris finished, panting heavily. It was like watching a schoolboy having the best time of his life, something that Jill loved seeing.
"Chris, aren't you worried that you might be a little obsessed?" Claire replied, a grin pinching her face.
Chris looked indignant.
"Who's obsessed?" he challenged.
"We think it might be you boyo" Leon chipped in "Wanna just cut down on the sugar a little?"
Chris humphed, Jill looped her arm in his. At this point, Leon felt something take control of his vocal chords and use them in a campaign against him.
"Uh…Chris, you wanna go back to Jill's for a while? I thought I might take Claire home…" Leon managed.
Chris and Jill looked at him, a little confused at first…and then the two of them grinned slyly, suggesting that maybe Leon and Claire needed some time 'alone'. Claire had blushed a little, and smiled hopefully.
Will he? Will he? She thought does Leon want to use this to his advantage? Please say he is…
"Sure" Chris said, and then walked over to whisper in Leon's ear "The condoms are in the left hand draw, my bedroom; be good, she hasn't had it since college"
Claire heard this, and kicked Chris hard in the shin. Leon didn't blame her for doing this, he looked a little stonily at Chris.
"Chris, if you'd just try not to embarrass me to death before the end of the evening there's a good man?"
"Stop complaining" Chris grumbled "But sure, me and Jill can improvise…"
"You bet" Jill said huskily, leaning towards his ear and whispering something. Leon wasn't sure he really wanted to know, and thankfully didn't although he swore that he had heard the word 'hard'.
Leon was driving, after witnessing Claire's stunt driving at the beginning of the evening Leon wasn't so sure he wanted to be in the passenger seat right at ground zero. They talked a little, exchanging thoughts and views but not really letting anything off in the terms of intimacy; they were both nervous, Chris and Jill had gone and anything could potentially happen now.
Leon pulled into the darkened street where they all lived, and he brought them to a halt outside the lit front porch.
"Well…" Leon sighed "Here we are"
"Come on" Claire said, lightly punching his arm "Let's go and have a drink"
They climbed out of the car, Leon courteously allowing Claire to go up the steps first. Leon didn't know what it was, it could have been the sugar from the popcorn that was just making him stare at Claire's derriere or what…maybe he was just obsessed or something…
"Home sweet home" Claire chirped, Leon laughing softly as she opened the door and let them in.
Within minutes, jackets were off and on the coat hook, with the pair of them lounging on the sofa, the CD player in action with some sort of obscure minimalist composer playing a gentle tinkling piano piece in the background. As Claire had said, it was a bit late for Green Day.
"Brandy?" Leon asked, going for Chris's usually out of bounds liquor cabinet.
"Please" Claire said, nodding enthusiastically. They sat down with their glasses, amber liquid sloshing around in the containers. Leon had poured only a small amount, he didn't want to intoxicate her…
Oh be serious, she's Chris Redfield's brother, she probably holds her liquor better than any man could…
"Leon, bring the bottle" Claire said, smiling "We're going to have a few more drinks yet"
"I don't want to get you drunk though." he said, bringing her the bottle.
"Well, we might do" she replied, giggling "Who cares? We're alone tonight"
They drank, both of them draining their glasses. It was brandy, and they both gasped loudly, coughing a little afterwards.
"Good stuff" Leon admitted, tears in his eyes.
"No kidding" Claire replied in a similar tone "Damn, that stuff's strong"
They talked and talked and talked, the brandy eased to one side as they both realised that if they had another then that would make them have another and so on. Leon wanted everything that happened to be sober. Neither of them would have an excuse in the morning.
"So…" Leon said, "…have you got a boyfriend yet?"
"Oh Leon" Claire said, rolling her eyes "I don't ever have time for one…at least…they don't have time for me"
"That's wrong" Leon replied, shaking his head "I don't understand, how could any man resist-"
He suddenly realised he'd just put his foot in it. He caught his tongue, but it was too late. Claire was on it in a second, her expression interested and even…teasing?
"Leon, I didn't know how smooth you could be sometimes" she said, sitting closer.
"Don't take it the wrong way" Leon gabbled, not noticing that she was actually sitting closer to him and the inches between them were rapidly reducing "I mean um, I can do relationships but you know, I'm a…well, a guy who likes you a lot and uh…well, I was thinking…"
"Leon" Claire cut him off in mid drivel, smiling seductively with her arms around his neck.
"Wha?" Leon's eyes were drawn to hers.
"Shut up"
She kissed him passionately on the lips, breasts pressing up against his body as she forced him backwards; Leon was now in action himself, kissing her deeply and with a lot of tongue back. She felt the hot muscle of his tongue exploring her gums. She loved that, returning her own kiss with her own muscle.
She felt Leon's hands slide inside her jeans…
"Whoa" she mumbled, pulling from the kiss "Not here Leon, not here. The sofa's a bit too obvious, don't you think?"
"Okay" replied a somewhat disappointed Leon, still gasping from the sheer exertion and excitement he'd felt "I'll take you to bed"
"No funny business" she warned.
Claire arched her back for the last time and collapsed naked on top of Leon's similarly unclothed and sweating form, the two lovers kissing ravenously before sinking back into the sheets, arms sliding around each other.
"Like…I said…" she panted "…no…funny business…"
"…none at all…" Leon replied, also out of breath.
"…let's go again" Claire said immediately, eyes glowing with lust.
"…you don't need to tell me twice" Leon replied with a grin, leaping on top of her and kissing her neck.
"God I love you" he murmured.
She replied in the way he wanted her to.
"And I love you…" she replied, as they prepared to do the horizontal mambo yet again.
END OF PART THREE
Authors note: Hey! Where are you going? The party ain't over yet! ^_^ An unexpected visitor comes in the next part…