Soon, after Jill exchanged friendly greetings with everyone, they decided it was not a party unless some music was played and that they began dancing in no time.
Chris wanted to slap all his comrades for not letting him efficiently interact with Jill, however he swore that from that time on, he would stick around Jill and not let a single person steal her from his grip again.
"Jill, see? Apparently, our mates are so glad that you made it." He walked over to her, standing right beside her to view the scene before them.
"You're not one of them?" Jill asked seriously, a ghost of smile creeping on her lips.
"Course I am. So you're enjoying it here?"
"The party? Yeah, it's brilliant. I got the impression that I was a president or something. Someone formidable, you know?" her voice dropped by the end.
"Jill, even since then you were referred to as 'commendable'. What makes you think otherwise?" his brow slightly furrowed in confusion.
"Actions speak louder than words Chris. I've failed… many times…" she sighed heavily, "… even as a partner."
"Jill…" his voice was so full of emotion that it came out in a whisper, "If it weren't for you, I'd be sleeping in one of those coffins. What I went through at the sight of your damned empty grave was like hell…" He paused as if the flashbacks were gripping his neck tightly, suffocating him in a darkness that was exploiting the rest of his life, threatening to drown him in a dazed nightmare.
"You have no idea how instrumental you are in the BSAA."
She went quiet for a minute,
"Thank you …"
Her eyes traced the people who had already started the dance,
"Really, Chris."
"Would you accept this soldier's invitation to dance?" he gently caught her hands, watching her suddenly shudder, a surprised expression touching her face for a second. But then Jill quickly relaxed and straightened up, her cold delicate fingers pressing a bit harder. Chris felt his heart beat hard, hard enough to displace a ton of cold avalanche.
"Give me one excuse to say no!" One of those enigmatic smiles rushed to her lips, her face tilting toward the vast hall in front of them.
The music was loud, warm, and romantic; one of those that people played in an open garden, under a heartwarming setting sun, signs of cherishment and ever-lasting love echoing through the air.
Her hands in his, just as Chris was about to gently lead her to the center, she objected, suddenly drawing out her fingers.
"Chris,"
"What? Don't you enjoy my company?" he asked with sore irritation, partly misunderstanding her.
"No, I…" Jill paused, sighing audibly. His rich brown eyes bore down on hers.
"I … I don't know how to dance. I mean…" her eyes fell to the floor, twiddling with her fingers, feeling as if she were some kind of criminal, confessing her serious crimes at court,
"Dancing like this isn't my thing. I never had the time and energy to get into these stuff!" she finished, her eyes darting into his, searching a response.
"Jill," Chris stared at her blankly, half gaping,
"You think I do?! Hell, none of these fellas know either!" he stopped himself from laughing to death.
"I don't know, I just wanted to warn you beforehand, just… you know, in case any catastrophe popped up in my dancing." Jill shrugged, as she smiled one of those coy smiles.
"You're dancing whatsoever, end of story." His grip tightened on her forearms again, this time successfully leading the two of them to the center.
They invented a dance themselves which flowed in place perfectly, not much different than those professional tangos on TV channels. The two went round the room, their bodies entwining naturally, his hand on her side, and her hand placed on his shoulder, their other ones stretched to their side, twirling around in circles. Her intoxicating scent travelled through his nostrils, somewhat doubling the adrenaline in his veins. His fingers brushed against the pale skin of her back, soft as baby's skin, smooth, sensitive, such a flawless complexion for a deadly agent. He would beat Wesker to death brutally for each tiny scar on her, those RPGs hadn't been enough to serve him well. The pace quickened, Jill clutched his shoulder harder, and they displayed a series of elegant curls, bends, twists and graceful dips.
"That was fabulous!" Chris said deeply, somehow praising her.
"Yeah, we were way more alert than on missions. Such a difficult accomplishment, comrade!" she pushed him gently.
"So you do think you can dance?" Chris nudged her with his elbow playfully.
"I don't 'think'" she crossed her arms fervently, "In fact… I'm certain!"
Chris said nothing but just chuckled lightly in response.
After a while, the guests settled on their seats to have their excellent dinner. Jill went to the piano as she had promised. Everyone exchanged furtive glances, their eyes moving from themselves to Jill who sat in distance, and then again to their food, a mountainous wave of anticipation rolling in.
A deadly silence fell all over the hall as her fingers came into contact with the first keys. After seconds flew by, everyone knew what was being played: Moonlight Sonata.
That.
Chris felt the food in his mouth stiffen like cold poison as he heard that. For sure, it was a mesmerizing sonata, one that was a relaxing lullaby for certain people, but that was not how Chris saw it. It painfully reminded him of what happened in Europe that night, overwhelming guilt, the guilt that he hadn't done a single thing to save his partner from falling to her death, just to save his life. What if he had never known she was incarcerated in Africa? What if he never found her again on any point of the world's grid? Shivers went down his spine, he could not even imagine. How could she even play that traumatic piece this easily? Maybe it was even better; if she stayed dead, he wouldn't be afraid of losing her again.
Wait, why am I spitting nonsense? Jill doesn't deserve to die, not in a million years! Pull yourself together, Chris!
It just took a few minutes and in fact, it had helped to warm up the place as everyone started conversing, a lot more passionately this time. Jill joined them at the table after the deafening applause from the crowd. Everyone went on complimenting Claire on her sumptuous cooking, and by the joyous expression shimmering on their faces, you could never speak of the horrors and hardships these people had witnessed through their career years.
Midnight arrived cruelly, and the guests said goodbye one by one after wishing Jill the best. However, it was Barry who also gave her a small present, something that resembled a data chip.
"Jill, I think you should hold on to this." Barry cautiously held it in front of her.
"What is it?"
"It's the brief speeches everyone delivered after…. after when we all thought you weren't …well, 'coming back'."
"Is it really necessary?" Fatigue was evident on her face, and it looked as if she wasn't the most willing one to hear it.
"I won't insist if that's what you want, but we normally don't give these to those who leave us, because technically they can't receive it. I just wanted you to know how concerned we all were, especially Chris who was truly grief-stricken."
Her heart almost leapt into her mouth at the name of Chris.
"Anyway, it's nothing important, really. If it irritates you, I'll get rid of it."
'No, no, give it to me." Jill said with certainty, almost snatching the chip, her eyes going through the tiny creature to analyze it. She could hear the contents if she inserted it in her own mobile.
"Thank you, Barry. Good night." She said with appreciation, closing the door.
Jill wasn't staying with Chris and Claire that night, intent on getting to her own apartment as soon as the party was over. Nonetheless, she quickly headed upstairs, shutting the door behind to open her special present outright.
Jill hastily inserted the chip, opening the recording and listening. She heard Barry's speech, Rebecca's, several BSAA agents' farewells, some of their captain's; all filled with nothing but respect and kindness toward their dead companion. And there it was; that familiar warm voice.
Chris!
She could hear him breathe hard at first, causing her to dig her teeth into her lips frantically. Perhaps he didn't know how to start, or even what to say, but then his strong voice came through:
"Jill Valentine… even at this point I… still don't know where I am. It happened rapidly… and… never had I felt that useless in life… everyone keeps saying how great she was… so dignified a partner… but… I'm not gonna use the word 'was' …" at this point Chris let out a bitter laugh, staring at everyone in disbelief and heart-wrenching melancholy,
"Jill Valentine hasn't died… she'll never die in my heart … I just know it… she didn't DESERVE it, "his voice was losing the strength that was holding it, cracking like the downfall of a tower.
"From now on… I'll be forever laughing… asking myself… is it worth fighting this hell? Is it worth embroiling yourself in vicious circles that suddenly erase the ones you've had at your side for years? A gravestone is not enough, monuments can never convey the importance of the tremendous sacrifices they made. Will anyone remember my partner after a year or so? NO, so just stop feeding yourselves these nonsensical lies! You never knew her the way I did! And you'll never know who Jill Valentine was!" he finished with agitation, his voice now inaccessible and the recording went dead.
Jill felt she couldn't stop her eyes from brimming with infinite velocity, trying hard to swallow the ball-sized lump in her throat. Rarely did she cry, or even if she did, they were some shadowy voiceless sobs wreaking her chest in the dark, cold stabbing tears flowing down as she shut her eyes with force, fading in the mist of night as soon as they appeared, leaving her cheeks tear-stained. Times like now when people shed those bitter youthful tears of their twenties, sprawling out on their beds immobile like the dead.
A/N: So hey there again! New update! Hope you enjoyed it. Thank you all for the precious reviews.
Dear Redfield Claire: I'm glad you enjoyed it ;)
Dear frozenheart7: It's not a party unless they dance! Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter :)
Dear Aj101010: I have to confess something; I don't know Barry very well, but I did my best to portray him in-character. Loved the grizzly bear!
Dear abcacb1221: we have about four exams a day, so I really apologize if I can't update frequently. By the way, my favorite couple is Valenfield too! I just wanna kill them because they never confess their love.
Dear klipity kluivert: It's exactly like you mentioned, dear friend! He won't notice even if you hit him with a barn door, lol! But his behavior completely changes when he's around Jill, at least in RE 5. Thank you for the wish!
Dear TheRedGinGan: First of all, I think somewhere in the first chapter I mention she was a brunette, but if you like to imagine her with blonde hair, it's totally okay, picture her in whatever way you like! Doesn't matter! Jessica is an interesting character to be honest. About Leon, he will appear in some places, but he's not the main character in this story. The focus in on Chris and Jill ;) I liked the dress part as well, call me confident but anyways ;)
Dear madzboy: Both games are correlated with Capcom, but for some reason, Remember Me was not well received, although it had a superb potential. Thank you for reading that as well. Also thanks for the fav and follow ;)
Dear Guest: Jessica is capable, but I respect Jill Valentine far more! My opinion is that she suits Chris better ;)
Dear Guest: Thanks a lot dear!
With endless affection towards readers, followers, etc.
Stay tuned !
