He has been staring at his laptop for a few minutes now. Still he hasn't written a single sentence. The drastic difference between being in the office and being in the field makes him scratch his head, he is not even in the office anymore. Sitting comfortably on his lazy boy with his laptop balanced on his abdomen, he tries to find the right words to use in order to compose an email.
All he needs to do is make a convincing proposal so that BSAA would increase the budget for medical supplies and safety gear. Seriously, does BSAA think their soldiers are invincible? They don't just need weapons. After all, not enough training will ever really prepare them for anything. He has been doing this for a long time to know that much. Now if only his brain cells would start tweaking in the right places in order for him to finish his response, that would be great. As he hears the front door open, he gets up on his feet and sets down the device on the coffee table.
"Hey."
"Hello there. You're still working?" Her arm hooks over his shoulder as she gives a soft peck on his cheek.
"No, I just uh . . . I need to just send this one email." He helps her take off her jacket, it's actually his brown jacket but for some reason she wears it more often than him. "Remember a few nights ago, we were talking about the budget cut?"
"Oh, right. Don't forget to attach the actual file needed." She adds in a teasing manner.
"Yeah, yeah. How's the training by the way?" He hangs the jacket and checks his wristwatch. It's almost dinner time. How long was he staring at the empty screen? He mentally gives himself a slap on the back of his head for losing track of time. As Jill trails behind him, he gingerly makes his way to the kitchen.
"It was fun as usual. I helped Barry get some bomb disposal equipment after training too. He couldn't stop ranting about how disobedient Moira has been. I already told him last time to take it easy on her because girls her age are a bit difficult to deal with. I'm sure you'd get what I mean, you basically raised Claire. And let me guess . . . " Stopping on his tracks and looking back at her, he waits for her to point it out. "You didn't make dinner."
His shoulders stop and he lets out a defeated sigh. Jill arrived later than he expected. He was thinking that once she arrives, that's his signal to start preparing dinner. Little did he know that she would go equipment shopping for BSAA. "You are right, I'm sorry. I was- It slipped my mind."
"You got a lot on your mind recently." She pats his cheek then very slowly her fingertips gently scratch his scalp just behind his ear, something she does that automatically makes his eyes close. That feeling when the effect of warm coffee starts to set in or when you get to smell the freshly baked cookies out of the oven? "What time did you start training those recruits earlier? 5? 4 AM? Have you gotten any rest after that? No wonder you can't send a simple email."
He could only let out a short humming tune in response and she mirrors his response then smiles a bit. It doesn't take much to satisfy her man but given their work, they don't regularly get to take a rest. Especially now that Chris might fly to Singapore soon, he has been very hands on when it comes to his team.
"OK, so this is what I need you to do. Go get a nice warm shower, I'll prepare dinner." She nudges him away from the kitchen.
"But-"
"No. Go away." She commands him, already opening the fridge and thinking what to cook. Again, he sighs in defeat but he chortles as he makes his way to the bathroom.
Funny how he is not the one saying the orders. More than a decade ago, he would tease her for always being the dutiful one. Always on time, always the first one in the STARS office when there is a meeting. If they were in school together at a younger age, she would be that kid he would borrow a pen from.
Now it seems like he is the one who is always amenable to do things she tells him to do. But that is something that she has never taken advantage of yet as they have always had an equal respect for each other, the only difference is it's more than just partners at work.
It has been years since they are living together but it's ironic to feel like nothing has changed between their relationship. Of course, they are more intimate now but their day to day activity, conversation and interaction feels the same but also so much better. Like how it's exhilarating waking up every morning and seeing her beside him. Like how she would welcome him with a warm hug once he gets home or even those days when they would do laundry together. It's that time when he had a bad day but she had something exciting to tell him, he set aside talking about how awful his day was and let her share what was the good thing that happened to her day instead. How he wishes he knows which shooting stars to thank for finally making this happen.
He could smell the spices from the bedroom as he opened the door. Is it pork? He licks his lips as he walks toward the kitchen. Is it chicken? She rarely cooks. They both rarely cook and heavily relied on ordering outside to save time but when she does he knows it's one of the most wonderful dishes he has ever tasted.
She cooked steak. Oh my, she fucking cooked steak. He could see her add some potatoes on the plate along with some other green stuff that he doesn't know but it doesn't matter because knows he will surely devour it all.
"There you are. You clean up well." She smiles proudly. "Now take a seat and let's eat."
He nods and helps her set the table. "It smells good. It looks good. I can't wait to taste it. Wine?"
"Sure, why not. I re-heated some stuff from last night too." She says while taking a seat.
He fills two glasses before placing it on the table and taking a seat next to her. The big plate of steak between the two of them with the leftover food they have from last night, two slices of hawaiian pizza, a bowl of mushroom soup and mac and cheese.
At last, he was finally able to cut the steak to pieces and get his first bite. His eyes close upon the touch of the meat, the savory taste enveloping his tongue. It's like all his senses disappeared and all that's left is this heavenly taste in his mouth and an urge to cry from the rush of dopamine.
"Do you know how much of an amazing chef you are?" He stabs a slice of the meat with a fork and holds it up for her.
"Of course, I'm good. I'm French." She gladly lets him feed her before slurping some soup. He would correct her and tell her she is not just good, she is the best.
Not just her cooking as a matter of fact. Everything about this woman is enchanting to the point that he sometimes doesn't believe that she is with him. And yet, there they are having a magnificent dinner together, drinking wine, talking about how their day was, talking about what they would do tomorrow and washing dishes.
"I'm telling you, that Neil guy from work she introduced us to, he likes her." She casually tells him while washing her hands on the sink.
He stares at her after the said statement, waiting for a cue or laugh or something but it seems like she means it. Staring back at him is the only response given before she wipes her hands on the paper towel. The older Redfield has always been oblivious about someone making a move or implied romance. It took both of them years before they confessed to each other, not to mention she needed to be proclaimed dead and be found again before he finally stepped up. His sister on the other hand, either notices signals rather quickly or her suitors are very much direct to the point.
"They might even be dating already." She adds and walks away from the dining room.
"Maybe that's good, you know. Claire . . has always been independent and carefree but if she really likes this guy . . then that's good." The slight rising intonation in his voice makes it sound more like a question and Jill suppresses her laughter. She can't wait for the day someone would look at Chris Redfield in the eyes with confidence and proudly say that they are dating Claire Redfield.
"If you say so." She opens a small cabinet in the living room as an idea comes up.
"I should probably work on that email." He takes a seat on the couch this time and reaches for the laptop on the coffee table.
"You don't need to finish it tonight. You know that, right?" She grabs some of the scented candles and sets them down the coffee table. As she stretches her hand out to him, he reaches for his lighter, quite confused as to why she is lighting the candle there since she always just takes those things with her to the bathroom rather than ignite it there.
His sight is fixed on her as she arranges the lighted candles and keeps his laptop away.
"Besides, even if you will be able to send the email tonight, the back office will be able to read it tomorrow morning. Some of us have lives outside of work." After grabbing the essential oils she needs, she dims the light.
"Fine. Tomorrow morning then. Do you need me to help you set up your bath?"
"No, not tonight. As a matter of fact, these are for you." He scoffs.
"I already showered though." He chuckles as she takes a seat beside him.
"I'm just going to give you a nice massage. Look at how freaking tense your shoulders are. I've heard people say that even your jaw is always clenched at work." Their laughter fills the air as Chris rubs his hand on the upper half of his face. "So just lie down on the couch and relax."
"Don't you need to get up early tomorrow?" He rummages around the stuff on the coffee table. Some concoctions that he didn't bother to read, all of those terms would be jargon for him anyway so he just sniffs one of it instead. To his surprise, the tea tree or pine like smell makes his eyebrows shoot up in amazement.
"No. And that's shit good, right? So come on, come on." A bit taken aback as her hands grab the bottom of his shirt but nonetheless, he raises his arms and lets her remove it before handing the aroma filled oil to her. A soothing ambient sound starts playing from her phone as he lies down on his tummy.
Despite the eucalyptus-like smell, the liquid doesn't feel that cold as a few droplets land on his back. Her warm hands start spreading it on his broad back, making sure she applies it evenly from his neck, shoulders, the side of his abdomen and down to his lower back. He sighs in relief and closes his eyes.
Proud to know she is doing the right thing, she gently adds more pressure on her finger tips, particularly her thumb as she traces small circles below his neck. She could feel his muscles slowly relax with each rotation. She traces her fingers on what's left of her nail marks from a few days ago. Good thing she clipped her nails today.
While running her thumb along his shoulder blades, she hears him hum. It's like each nerve in her fingers has a charged tiny particle that sparks with each contact it makes with his skin and that minute particle slides up to the back of his neck resulting in a combination of a relaxing and ticklish feeling. Unsure if he was saying something or just a sound of satisfaction, she just continues roaming her hands on his back. Her hands keep taking the same path, adding significant pressure on that tight knot that she found on his right side.
"You OK?" She leans a bit lower and whispers in his ear. A smile is plastered on his face as he nods "Good." She pets his hair then resumes busiying her hands, this time down to his lower back. She needed to push his boxer shorts a bit lower to reach her desired finish line. As a result, he lets out a gratifying sound again.
He could doze off anytime soon but he'd never let himself miss a moment like this. A break from everything with her. His eyes start to get watery again. Just like when they were having dinner, the overwhelming contentment fills him to the point that he wants to cry. "Jill." He slightly turns around and looks at him, she leans down again and starts combing his hair with her fingers.
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
Even though there were no tears falling from his eyes. She can tell he is on the verge of crying. "Aww, I love you too." She plants a soft kiss on the corner of his lips.
As far as she remembers, she fell asleep on the recliner after Chris dozed off on the couch. But as she stretches her arms after removing the comfortable, warm blanket around her, she realizes she is on their bed. She turns off her alarm just as the door opens.
"I wonder why you still set the same alarm even if you said you don't have something important to do today." Chris enters their bedroom with a tray of an entire breakfast set.
"And I wonder how early you woke up to prepare for that." Pancakes, sausage, bacon, eggs, raspberries and blueberries with a glass of orange juice. "What's the occasion?"
"Nothing. I just had a really, and I mean really, remarkable night and I would want you to at least have a great morning." Setting down the tray on the bed, he joins her and gives a peck on her forehead.
"You didn't have to but thank you, honey." She picks up a fork and tries the pancake then takes a bite of the bacon. "And this does taste delicious."
He smiles with pride. Technically the only thing he cooked were the pancakes since he just placed the sausages and bacon in the microwave but he will still bask in this success. She sees the grin on his face and shoves a piece of berry in his mouth.
"Eat too. You have work. I remember you said you have to write that email this morning."
"It can wait."
A/N: Thank you reading and I hope that you enjoyed it. A little Valenfield one-shot for this upcoming Valentines day. If you have spare time, kindly check my profile as well because apart from writing fanfics, I also livestream on Twitch and upload video on Youtube. I also have a Ko-Fi account where I post some of my original written works. As always, I hope that I was able to make you smile with this fic and hope that you enjoy your day.
