New Horizons, XXI
By: Hotaru
Warnings: Steve bashing, strong language, RE: Code Veronica spoilers
~^~
Claire stood outside her brother's room hesitantly. She had been standing there for awhile now just listening to his movements. First he turned on the radio, scanned a few stations then turned it off with a huff. She heard the bed creak and some sheets ruffle, and it had been silent ever since. Raising her hand, she knocked on the door. "Chris? Can I talk to you?" She asked, tapping her finger on the door handle impatiently.
"What for?" Chris replied.
"We need to talk, dear."
With a sigh, Chris got off his bed and unlocked his door. He had changed into his night clothes, and returned to his bed. "Well, what?" He asked, sitting down and staring aggrivatedly at the closets.
"Chris...what ever happened to my way cool older brother? You could get any girl you wanted back when you were in high school. Now, you're just always fighting with the girl you love. Why?" Claire asked. Chris eyed her briefly. Sure, he was popular in high school, but just because of his looks. And that pleased him back then, being a hormone driven teen anyway. But now, after surviving Umbrella time and time again, he realized that he needs to focus on people as a whole, and that looks weren't everything.
"Isn't there a saying about how even the best couples get into fights or something?" Chris asked.
"I guess so. But great couples also know how to sort through their problems. They don't run away to their rooms, and wait for the other person to make the first move."
"The only way we can really talk is through e-mails. And that's so impersonal. I really wanted to talk to her on the phone, but I royally fucked _that_ up. She's not gonna want to talk to me now."
"That's not true. When we talked on the phone, she told me to tell you that she misses you and hopes your big dopey head feels better. Actually, I added that part about you having a big head...but the rest is true."
Chris smirked at his sister and ran his hands through his hair. "Ah, why do things have to be so damn complicated? Alright...I'll see if we can talk through that private message service that they set up."
"Yes, you do that. I can't stand to see you like this." Claire remarked, before patting Chris' hair, and leaving.
He came downstairs a little while longer, and went on the computer to instant message Jill. Sighing, Claire sat down on the couch next to Leon and closed her eyes. She felt very sleepy for some reason. "Hey." Leon said, nudging Claire with his knee.
"What?" Claire asked.
"Can we talk?" Leon replied, gesturing outside with his eyes. Glancing back at her brother, who seemed engrossed with the computer, she shrugged and nodded.
Leon stood up and went onto the front porch. Claire looked around nervously, crossing her arms over her chest. She didn't want that mystery woman to get her too. "So, ah..what's up?" She asked. Leon leaned against the porch railing and sighed.
"I just thought I should let you know about something that happened at work. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, but I've been debating whether or not to tell you in the first place, and I realized that I can't really lie to you." Leon said, rather quickly.
"Leon, please, you're scaring me. What is it?"
"Oh, you don't have to be scared, it's just...someone that I work with asked me out, and I didn't give them a definate yes or no answer."
"Oh! Oh...wh-why not?" Claire asked, her voice shaking. She didn't usually get so worked up over stupid shit like this. But she and Leon have been growing close, and the fact that he didn't say no right off the bat bothered her.
Exhaling a breath he must have been holding, Leon turned to face her, despite it being too dark out to make out much. "I'm sorry, Claire, it was just...a moment of weakness or something! I should have said no, and I'm sorry I didn't, I really am, but I just...shit, I haven't been out with a girl in so long!" He said pleadingly.
"Well...you could always as me out.." Claire said slowly. To be honest, she was over Steve, and had come to terms that he raped her _again_. She was just afraid to start a relationship with Leon, and then screw up their friendship if anything were to happen.
"What? But-I..I thought that you--"
Smiling up at him, Claire sauntered towards him. "I think I'm ready to get back on the horse again." She whispered into his ear, making him shiver.
"Oh..oh! Great then! Maybe tomorrow we could go get lunch or something during my break?" Leon suggested.
"Sure, that'd be fine. I'm just going to be painting and stuff, so give me a call."
"Great. Let's get inside, it's freezing out here."
"You're such a baby."
The two entered the house, startling Chris slightly. "Jesus! I forgot you guys were here." He stated, his hand clutching his shirt.
"We weren't gone _that_ long, Chris. So I take it you and Jill are finally talking like civilized people?" Claire replied, pulling a comforter off the couch and wrapping it around her body.
"Yes, we are. What's up with you two?" Chris asked, turning back to the computer.
"Nothing really. We're gonna have some lunch tomorrow, that's all." Claire replied simply.
Chris turned and raised an inquisitive brow at her. "Oh? So little miss depression is finally okay now?" He asked.
"Shut up, Chris." Claire spat back.
"Make me."
"God, you're such a baby!"
"And you're not?"
Leon stepped in between the two as if to block the argument. "Stop it, both of you! Why the fuck can't we go one day without a damn argument!?" He exclaimed. Chris glared at Leon, before turning back to the computer to complain to Jill. Claire glared daggers at her brother before storming upstairs. "What, you can't let us have a bit of fun?" Chris asked, not turning around.
"Fun? That wasn't fun, that was a damn headache!" Leon replied.
"If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen."
"How Jill could fall for you is beyond me."
With that, Leon went upstairs. The door to Claire's room was closed, and he didn't feel like suffering her wrath at the time. Instead, he went back downstairs to paint. Looking around, he realized that the can and brushes were missing. He didn't want to bother Chris, but he didn't have anything better to do. "Hey Chris, you know where Claire put all that painting stuff?" He questioned, scratching the back of his head nervously.
"No..check out in the basement." Chris replied slowly, typing while he talked.
"Basement? I didn't know there was a basement.." Leon remarked, looking around for a door he somehow missed.
"The doors are outside on the side of the house. They're easy to miss cause they're surrounded with shrubs and stuff."
"Oh. Alright, thanks."
Grabbing a coat, Leon headed outside into the darkness. The ground was cold and stiff under his feet. Dry leaves crinkled as he made his way to the side of the house. Cautiously, he looked around the corner just to make sure no one was there. Sighing, he continued around the bend, wondering what he was so worried about. Chris was caught off guard before, that wouldn't happen to anyone else now. Finding the doors, he grimaced when he saw a padlock. "Shit.." He rummaged around in the bushes, looking for a fake rock or something.
Suddenly, something hit him from above. Falling back, he clutched his head, and looked up. "Leon? What are you doing?!" Claire exclaimed, preparing to throw another book down at him.
"Jesus, Claire! You could have killed me!" Leon exclaimed.
"I'm sorry I hit you, but all's I heard was something in the bushes. I know the basement door is right there, and so is the spare key. I just grabbed a few books and started throwing them. Are you alright?"
"Yeah..I'm fine. I guess I should have asked you where your key was first."
"Yeah, you should have. Come on in, I'll get it for you."
Leon climbed up from the ground and headed around to the front door. Shivering, he looked around the dark neighborhood. It was likely that the mystery woman was still lurking around there. Taking one last look, he went back inside. Claire was waiting in the living room for him, glancing over Chris's shoulder. "What were you out there for, anyway?" Claire asked.
"Paint." Leon replied, taking the key from her.
"Oh. You want me to help?"
"I thought you were too busy sulking."
Claire narrowed her eyes at him playfully, unable to remain mad at that Kennedy grin of his. "Yeah, but I changed my mind. Chris, you still talking to Jill?" She replied.
"Yeah..why?" Chris replied, half-paying attention.
"I was just wondering cause we might need to move the computer to paint back there."
"Oh. Well, paint everywhere else, then I'll see what Jill says."
"You're so whipped. Alright, Leon, I'll go out there with you."
Pulling her sweater off the hook, she put it on and went outside. "How the hell did it get so cold all of a sudden?" Claire asked, wrapping her arms around her body tightly.
"Fall is here, winter's coming. That's what happens, dear." Leon replied, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"Jeez, we're so chummy all of a sudden. What next?"
Glancing down at her, he thought about kissing her, but chickened out last second. They arrived at the basement door, and Claire unlocked it. "It's so dark down here, I hate to go down alone." Claire admitted, pushing Leon ahead of her.
"This reminds me of that scene in Psycho, where the mother is in the basement." Leon said, knowing Claire would playfully swat at him or something.
"I'm just waiting to hear that music." Claire replied, immitating the screetch of violins, and swinging her arm in a stabbing action.
"Where's the light, or do the stairs go down forever?"
"Yeah, when you get to the bottom, there's a lightbulb with a string _right_ in front of you."
Stumbling slightly, Leon reached his arm out and felt around. "Ah, here we go." He announced, yanking down on the string. Light filled the room, and Leon winced, as he was staring right at the lightbulb. "Jesus, it's huge!" Claire put her hands in her back pockets and shrugged.
"I guess so. It _is_ two floors after all. I've never gone up there, though. I don't trust the floor." Claire said, pointing at the floor above them.
"Cool, how do you get up there?" Leon asked.
"There's a ladder in the back. But _please_ don't go up there! If there are spiders and...and nasty stuff up there, and the floor falls, I'll kill you."
Leon grinned mysteriously, making Claire regret telling him how to get up there all together. "Anyway, where's this paint, now?" Leon questioned.
"Right over there against the wall...see it?" Claire answered, pointing behind him. Leon swiveled around, and went to get the painting supplies.
"Ah, there we go. Thanks."
Claire shivered, looking around her basement nervously. The lightbulb only illuminated the first ten feet or so, everything else was completely dark. She grabbed Leon's arm as he approached her, and quickly hurried towards the stairs. "Hey, what's the hurry?" Leon questioned, looking behind him to make sure nothing was following them.
"Nothing, I just get really creeped out down here." Claire replied, pulling the string on the lightbulb, leaving the area in darkness. Charging up the stairs, she breathed a sigh of relief when they reached the top. Leon closed the doors, and locked them, before grinning.
"I would have figured you'd be at least a little brave goin' through zombie-infested cities, but..I guess I was wrong." He said with a wink.
"Hey, big spiders? Let 'em come, I can do big. But when they're small, and can get into your clothes with out you realizing it, until you feel something crawling in your shirt and it _totally_ grosses you out? No way."
Leon put the paint supplies on the ground with a mischevious grin on his face. "You mean like...this?" He drawled, reaching his hands under her jacket to tickle her through her t-shirt. Erupting into laughter, Claire squirmed and closed her eyes, trying to push his hands away.
"Cut it out!" She giggled, beginning to tickle him in an attempt to stop him.
"No way!" Leon retorted, as they fell onto the floor, laughing like a bunch of school kids. They rolled around for a bit, laughing and tickling each other, until they came to a stop at the neighbors fence.
Claire layed on the cold ground, looking up into Leon's deep blue eyes. Licking her lips, she reached up and pulled his head down to catch his lips with her own. They remained there for awhile, before they broke the kiss to breathe again. Claire blushed, and turned her head to the side, trying not to laugh. Leon climbed off of her and offered his hand. "That was unexpected." He said with a smile. Claire raised her eyebrows, and ran inside, leaving Leon to bring in the painting supplies.
TBC
By: Hotaru
Warnings: Steve bashing, strong language, RE: Code Veronica spoilers
~^~
Claire stood outside her brother's room hesitantly. She had been standing there for awhile now just listening to his movements. First he turned on the radio, scanned a few stations then turned it off with a huff. She heard the bed creak and some sheets ruffle, and it had been silent ever since. Raising her hand, she knocked on the door. "Chris? Can I talk to you?" She asked, tapping her finger on the door handle impatiently.
"What for?" Chris replied.
"We need to talk, dear."
With a sigh, Chris got off his bed and unlocked his door. He had changed into his night clothes, and returned to his bed. "Well, what?" He asked, sitting down and staring aggrivatedly at the closets.
"Chris...what ever happened to my way cool older brother? You could get any girl you wanted back when you were in high school. Now, you're just always fighting with the girl you love. Why?" Claire asked. Chris eyed her briefly. Sure, he was popular in high school, but just because of his looks. And that pleased him back then, being a hormone driven teen anyway. But now, after surviving Umbrella time and time again, he realized that he needs to focus on people as a whole, and that looks weren't everything.
"Isn't there a saying about how even the best couples get into fights or something?" Chris asked.
"I guess so. But great couples also know how to sort through their problems. They don't run away to their rooms, and wait for the other person to make the first move."
"The only way we can really talk is through e-mails. And that's so impersonal. I really wanted to talk to her on the phone, but I royally fucked _that_ up. She's not gonna want to talk to me now."
"That's not true. When we talked on the phone, she told me to tell you that she misses you and hopes your big dopey head feels better. Actually, I added that part about you having a big head...but the rest is true."
Chris smirked at his sister and ran his hands through his hair. "Ah, why do things have to be so damn complicated? Alright...I'll see if we can talk through that private message service that they set up."
"Yes, you do that. I can't stand to see you like this." Claire remarked, before patting Chris' hair, and leaving.
He came downstairs a little while longer, and went on the computer to instant message Jill. Sighing, Claire sat down on the couch next to Leon and closed her eyes. She felt very sleepy for some reason. "Hey." Leon said, nudging Claire with his knee.
"What?" Claire asked.
"Can we talk?" Leon replied, gesturing outside with his eyes. Glancing back at her brother, who seemed engrossed with the computer, she shrugged and nodded.
Leon stood up and went onto the front porch. Claire looked around nervously, crossing her arms over her chest. She didn't want that mystery woman to get her too. "So, ah..what's up?" She asked. Leon leaned against the porch railing and sighed.
"I just thought I should let you know about something that happened at work. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, but I've been debating whether or not to tell you in the first place, and I realized that I can't really lie to you." Leon said, rather quickly.
"Leon, please, you're scaring me. What is it?"
"Oh, you don't have to be scared, it's just...someone that I work with asked me out, and I didn't give them a definate yes or no answer."
"Oh! Oh...wh-why not?" Claire asked, her voice shaking. She didn't usually get so worked up over stupid shit like this. But she and Leon have been growing close, and the fact that he didn't say no right off the bat bothered her.
Exhaling a breath he must have been holding, Leon turned to face her, despite it being too dark out to make out much. "I'm sorry, Claire, it was just...a moment of weakness or something! I should have said no, and I'm sorry I didn't, I really am, but I just...shit, I haven't been out with a girl in so long!" He said pleadingly.
"Well...you could always as me out.." Claire said slowly. To be honest, she was over Steve, and had come to terms that he raped her _again_. She was just afraid to start a relationship with Leon, and then screw up their friendship if anything were to happen.
"What? But-I..I thought that you--"
Smiling up at him, Claire sauntered towards him. "I think I'm ready to get back on the horse again." She whispered into his ear, making him shiver.
"Oh..oh! Great then! Maybe tomorrow we could go get lunch or something during my break?" Leon suggested.
"Sure, that'd be fine. I'm just going to be painting and stuff, so give me a call."
"Great. Let's get inside, it's freezing out here."
"You're such a baby."
The two entered the house, startling Chris slightly. "Jesus! I forgot you guys were here." He stated, his hand clutching his shirt.
"We weren't gone _that_ long, Chris. So I take it you and Jill are finally talking like civilized people?" Claire replied, pulling a comforter off the couch and wrapping it around her body.
"Yes, we are. What's up with you two?" Chris asked, turning back to the computer.
"Nothing really. We're gonna have some lunch tomorrow, that's all." Claire replied simply.
Chris turned and raised an inquisitive brow at her. "Oh? So little miss depression is finally okay now?" He asked.
"Shut up, Chris." Claire spat back.
"Make me."
"God, you're such a baby!"
"And you're not?"
Leon stepped in between the two as if to block the argument. "Stop it, both of you! Why the fuck can't we go one day without a damn argument!?" He exclaimed. Chris glared at Leon, before turning back to the computer to complain to Jill. Claire glared daggers at her brother before storming upstairs. "What, you can't let us have a bit of fun?" Chris asked, not turning around.
"Fun? That wasn't fun, that was a damn headache!" Leon replied.
"If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen."
"How Jill could fall for you is beyond me."
With that, Leon went upstairs. The door to Claire's room was closed, and he didn't feel like suffering her wrath at the time. Instead, he went back downstairs to paint. Looking around, he realized that the can and brushes were missing. He didn't want to bother Chris, but he didn't have anything better to do. "Hey Chris, you know where Claire put all that painting stuff?" He questioned, scratching the back of his head nervously.
"No..check out in the basement." Chris replied slowly, typing while he talked.
"Basement? I didn't know there was a basement.." Leon remarked, looking around for a door he somehow missed.
"The doors are outside on the side of the house. They're easy to miss cause they're surrounded with shrubs and stuff."
"Oh. Alright, thanks."
Grabbing a coat, Leon headed outside into the darkness. The ground was cold and stiff under his feet. Dry leaves crinkled as he made his way to the side of the house. Cautiously, he looked around the corner just to make sure no one was there. Sighing, he continued around the bend, wondering what he was so worried about. Chris was caught off guard before, that wouldn't happen to anyone else now. Finding the doors, he grimaced when he saw a padlock. "Shit.." He rummaged around in the bushes, looking for a fake rock or something.
Suddenly, something hit him from above. Falling back, he clutched his head, and looked up. "Leon? What are you doing?!" Claire exclaimed, preparing to throw another book down at him.
"Jesus, Claire! You could have killed me!" Leon exclaimed.
"I'm sorry I hit you, but all's I heard was something in the bushes. I know the basement door is right there, and so is the spare key. I just grabbed a few books and started throwing them. Are you alright?"
"Yeah..I'm fine. I guess I should have asked you where your key was first."
"Yeah, you should have. Come on in, I'll get it for you."
Leon climbed up from the ground and headed around to the front door. Shivering, he looked around the dark neighborhood. It was likely that the mystery woman was still lurking around there. Taking one last look, he went back inside. Claire was waiting in the living room for him, glancing over Chris's shoulder. "What were you out there for, anyway?" Claire asked.
"Paint." Leon replied, taking the key from her.
"Oh. You want me to help?"
"I thought you were too busy sulking."
Claire narrowed her eyes at him playfully, unable to remain mad at that Kennedy grin of his. "Yeah, but I changed my mind. Chris, you still talking to Jill?" She replied.
"Yeah..why?" Chris replied, half-paying attention.
"I was just wondering cause we might need to move the computer to paint back there."
"Oh. Well, paint everywhere else, then I'll see what Jill says."
"You're so whipped. Alright, Leon, I'll go out there with you."
Pulling her sweater off the hook, she put it on and went outside. "How the hell did it get so cold all of a sudden?" Claire asked, wrapping her arms around her body tightly.
"Fall is here, winter's coming. That's what happens, dear." Leon replied, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"Jeez, we're so chummy all of a sudden. What next?"
Glancing down at her, he thought about kissing her, but chickened out last second. They arrived at the basement door, and Claire unlocked it. "It's so dark down here, I hate to go down alone." Claire admitted, pushing Leon ahead of her.
"This reminds me of that scene in Psycho, where the mother is in the basement." Leon said, knowing Claire would playfully swat at him or something.
"I'm just waiting to hear that music." Claire replied, immitating the screetch of violins, and swinging her arm in a stabbing action.
"Where's the light, or do the stairs go down forever?"
"Yeah, when you get to the bottom, there's a lightbulb with a string _right_ in front of you."
Stumbling slightly, Leon reached his arm out and felt around. "Ah, here we go." He announced, yanking down on the string. Light filled the room, and Leon winced, as he was staring right at the lightbulb. "Jesus, it's huge!" Claire put her hands in her back pockets and shrugged.
"I guess so. It _is_ two floors after all. I've never gone up there, though. I don't trust the floor." Claire said, pointing at the floor above them.
"Cool, how do you get up there?" Leon asked.
"There's a ladder in the back. But _please_ don't go up there! If there are spiders and...and nasty stuff up there, and the floor falls, I'll kill you."
Leon grinned mysteriously, making Claire regret telling him how to get up there all together. "Anyway, where's this paint, now?" Leon questioned.
"Right over there against the wall...see it?" Claire answered, pointing behind him. Leon swiveled around, and went to get the painting supplies.
"Ah, there we go. Thanks."
Claire shivered, looking around her basement nervously. The lightbulb only illuminated the first ten feet or so, everything else was completely dark. She grabbed Leon's arm as he approached her, and quickly hurried towards the stairs. "Hey, what's the hurry?" Leon questioned, looking behind him to make sure nothing was following them.
"Nothing, I just get really creeped out down here." Claire replied, pulling the string on the lightbulb, leaving the area in darkness. Charging up the stairs, she breathed a sigh of relief when they reached the top. Leon closed the doors, and locked them, before grinning.
"I would have figured you'd be at least a little brave goin' through zombie-infested cities, but..I guess I was wrong." He said with a wink.
"Hey, big spiders? Let 'em come, I can do big. But when they're small, and can get into your clothes with out you realizing it, until you feel something crawling in your shirt and it _totally_ grosses you out? No way."
Leon put the paint supplies on the ground with a mischevious grin on his face. "You mean like...this?" He drawled, reaching his hands under her jacket to tickle her through her t-shirt. Erupting into laughter, Claire squirmed and closed her eyes, trying to push his hands away.
"Cut it out!" She giggled, beginning to tickle him in an attempt to stop him.
"No way!" Leon retorted, as they fell onto the floor, laughing like a bunch of school kids. They rolled around for a bit, laughing and tickling each other, until they came to a stop at the neighbors fence.
Claire layed on the cold ground, looking up into Leon's deep blue eyes. Licking her lips, she reached up and pulled his head down to catch his lips with her own. They remained there for awhile, before they broke the kiss to breathe again. Claire blushed, and turned her head to the side, trying not to laugh. Leon climbed off of her and offered his hand. "That was unexpected." He said with a smile. Claire raised her eyebrows, and ran inside, leaving Leon to bring in the painting supplies.
TBC
