Chapter 4

The special agent drank a coke he took from the fridge. He felt his heart burned and then he thought maybe if he drinks something pleasant it'd make him better. But what are left were only an empty can and his heart still felt like burned down. He stared throughout the window but what he could see was just a crowded jam. He could hear people were arguing and fighting down there.

"That's why I choose to be single." He threw the empty can to the bin from where he was sitting. "I don't have any girlfriends yet, but I already got this damn fight. Women are so selfish. They're more complicated than zombies."

Leon sighed. "What's her problem?" When he turned his body to face his softy bed, he was looking at his laptop accidentally. He recalled about the e-mail problem in a flash. Doubtfully, he changed his direction to his desk and worked with the laptop. He typed his id and password to get through to his mail, but then it was empty. There were no inbox from Claire besides another e-mail from important people at his job.

He smirked wryly. "See? She was only stalling from me!" he jerked up from his chair and directed himself to the bed. Laid down on the bed with face against it, it felt good on him. When he was about to doze off, he suddenly recalled that he had another id.

"Oh, shit!" he hastily ran to the desk and quickly typed his other id. So he had 2 ids, which ones he used for job stuff and the other one for his friends to contact him. And he stupidly had forgotten about the other one. He kept cursing himself as he confirmed his id and immediately clicked on the inbox link.

"Goddamn." He slapped his face when he was seeing several messages from Claire. It had been sent since a week after they parted until 2 weeks ago. And none of them had been replied by him, even read it. "You're so stupid, Leon!"

He exhaled desperately. Hopping that he could turn back times and back to the time where he was dancing with her. "Then I guess I have to arrange my second meeting with her tomorrow."

"Claire, hurry up!" Chris called her from downstairs.

Claire got out from the shower and covered his slender body with towel. After got dressed, she checked her items to make sure no things left. When she packed her bag, she remembered her little fight with Leon. She felt bad and insecure, indeed. At least, it was the last day where she might be with him and tell a short story before going back to DC. Or might be not. He could've gone without saying a word to her, just like when she did it back then. Or maybe he had not. Whether had or not, it didn't change the fact that they would be apart again with a sorrow ending. But she wanted to meet him for the last time (hope not). But how? She didn't know where he lived. They hadn't contacted each other in a long time. And even Claire contacted him, he DIDN'T bother to reply it. He would be too busy to even remembering her. And Claire would be too busy to forget about him.

"Claire!" Chris called her name for a million times.

She fumed on her mind, questioning why her brother was very impatient and fussy. "Just, wait a minute, okay!" she yelped. After packing her things, she exited her room hurriedly and was about to grumble to Chris. "Could you stop calling my name because it starts to make my… ears hurt…" she stopped her step and slowing down her sentence.

"I won't stop calling your name because I like that name."

She froze within a second then quickly slapped her mind back to the reality. "Leon? What are you doing here?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Trying not to get abandoned again this time." Claire sighed harshly.

"And how did you know where I stay?" she questioned him again.

He crossed his hands. "I'm a special agent. I must know people's location easily."

"Yeah, right." She replied in cold tone as she rolled her eyes. She paused. "Where's Chris?" It was so quite she didn't notice the whereabouts of her fussy brother.

"I kicked him back to DC."

"What?"

"Joke." Leon helped her to carry her bag. "When I first came here, he said to me that he has to go for an emergency work. And since you're too long in your room, he decided to leave you. Oh, and he took his car."

She dropped her jaw in surprise. "He left me all alone?"

"Yup." He nodded firmly.

"And took away his car?"

"Correct."

"Chris!!" she called her brother desperately and then searched for him in every side of his room. But he was gone as Leon said. His car also disappeared without a trace.

"I told ya." He said in victory grin. "But he left a message. He said that you're going home with Leon, but first he must to feed her a breakfast before exiting this city. That's what he said."

Claire rolled her eyes. "You think I will believe you?" she took out her cell phone and dialed Chris' number. "Chris, where the hell are you?"

"Oh, Claire. I'm on my way back to DC. Did Kennedy already pass you my message? Claire?"

She hung up the phone and sat on the couch with grim face. "Do everything you feel want to do."

The Kennedy leaned his body against the front door, staring the young woman through his corner eyes. There was a bizarre silence and it felt uncomfortable. The both of them just kept their mouth shut, waiting for each other to speak a word, but none of them did. He could hear her soft and normal breath, but he barely heard her voice since then.

Claire still unmoved her body from the couch and did nothing. Except for her mind that kept struggling to decide what was her intention for the next. She got a surprise guest just when she thought about him. Now he was already there, probably asking her (if it wasn't because Chris told him to take care of her) to get home with him. What was she going to do? Would she tell him that she was regret about what happened last night and begged for his apologize?

Without turning her head, Claire could tell that he was staring at her, maybe waiting for her to speak. But she planned to keep shut until Leon speaks to her first. And surprisingly, he came closer to Claire. He picked a seat next to her, sitting there quietly with his body leaned forward and his hands were clutching. For a minute, he didn't say anything. But her heart already pounded quickly.

"Claire," he began. "I know this silence isn't gonna work to solve what happened. So I want to say it straight-forwardly." He paused and inhaled some air. "I'm sorry."

Claire didn't budge from her place. She still felt something bizarre on her mind. Something stuck up on it and she couldn't figure what it was. But one thing she knew, she didn't know what she was up to and what she wanted from him.

Leon was all quite now. He gazed through her eyes, as if he could read what was on her mind.

"I'm sorry."

By his twice apologize, she finally twisted her head to face Leon's. "No."

"What do you mean?" he questioned quickly, half of his mind was strained by her reaction.

She shook her head elegantly but firm. "I'm sorry, Leon."

He kind of surprised and puzzled at the same time, but then he locked his eyes on hers and looked through her clear eyes. "You didn't wrong. I was the one who brought this problem up."

Claire blinked her eyes before she changed her sight to the off television in the room. "You're right. I might be selfish and careless back then, rushing like hell without pondering the risks. But I had this unease feeling when I left you. And I keep thinking about you since then." She stopped, and then stood on her feet to walk to reach her backpack before she exited the room.

"I just want you to know that."

Later on, there was a sound 'click' as the door closed tightly. Leon certainly didn't get the whole point. He didn't expect that she would regret it and said her apology. And then she left him alone with so much questions nearly exploded on his brain.

Claire paced along the corridor with medium speed, trying to get out of the hotel she was staying as soon as possible. She thought about the thing she had spilled out from her mouth. It just launched before she could think what was she trying to say. She couldn't stand look him in his eyes and she couldn't face him for some reason. So she walked out the door and decided to find any transportation.

"Claire!" She tried not to respond it and kept moving forward. "So this is your sorry?" She stopped. "Why are you running away from me again?"

Claire didn't answer it. Actually, she had no idea to answer it. Why did she run away?

"Is it because you still mad at me?" he questioned. "Okay, Claire, I will confess some things." He cleared his throat. "I forgot your e-mail, because of my double id. That's some major sin I've had."

"Obviously, you're right. I was too busy to even contact you. And I know that's unforgivable."

"And I didn't mean to corner you last night. I'm sorry if I was being rude. But I truly damn worried about you. I'm worried you but then I got too carry away with my job. I know, it looks like some shit to you."

"Okay, then. I'm the one who sent you the flowers thru' Chris."

The girl widened her eyes, getting startled by his last sentence. "So it was you?" finally she turned look at him.

He shrugged. "Pretty much."

"Why you didn't give any sign?"

"Does it really matter?"

She nodded in hesitate. "Yeah, at least I would know it was from you."

"You like it?"

"I love it."

"Well, it's good enough to know." He smiled one sided only.

She crossed her hands and mumbled. "Are there any more facts that you hide from me?"

He thought briefly. "Oh, there's one and it's very important."

"If that's something wo…"

"Claire, I love you."

Claire couldn't say anything but stay quite. Another surprise she got in this morning. Did he just confess his feeling towards her? This Leon?

"Wh…" she just wanted to say something before he put his lips on hers until it collided softly but passion. She didn't resist or struggle, because she was enjoying it. And she didn't want to be apart from him. She wanted his lips kept locking on hers, but realizing they would need to breathe some air, they parted with a little sound of panting.

Now she managed to find what this tingling feel she had.

"What I was trying to say is," she paused. "I love you too."

He smiled brightly then hugged her until she drowned in his body. His big hand against her head, pulling it towards his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Claire. I didn't smart enough to realize it immediately."

"Same here." She said with face full of bright smile. "I love you, Leon."

"Then don't leave me again." She kissed him once more. She was glad this was all happened to her. She was glad to meet Leon, she was glad she fought with Leon, and now she was glad the problem was solved by both of their confession.

Claire parted from him all of a sudden and then chuckled. "People starting to get attention from us."

"Yeah, so?" he tried to reach her lips, but she put her finger on top of his lips.

"I'm hungry! Come on, feed me!" she begged.

He rolled his eyes and put his hand on her waist, dragging her to walk to his car. "Okay, okay. Let's eat."

"Hey, one more question!" she squeaked. Leon lifted his eyebrows, indicating to let her ask. "Why did you send the flowers to my brother?"

He chuckled lightly. "Why? I don't know exactly, but I think it would nice if I sent it to your brother instead. It looks more mysterious."

She shook her head off and giggled ticklish. "But you successfully made Chris paranoid, you know! He thought the sender might be from some pervert guy. The funniest thing that he thought about Wesker too!"

Leon opened his car, letting her to go in. "Really? Well, I guess I will send more flowers to him."

"You're so mean!" Claire still laughed. She nudged him when he sat on the driver's seat. "Chris will definitely kill you if he knows it was you."

He looked straight to her but his other hand was putting the key into the hole. "His sister won't let that happens, will she?"

The sister looked at another direction as she crossed her hands. "Well… it depends." He smiled and then tapped her head.

Leon's car made a sound before it got disappear in the road, speeding up to where they would head next.

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So… another happy ending story about LeonClaire! I really love this pairing. They're sooooooooo sweet, though in movies nor games they never looked like there's something special between them except for their friendship only. How sad, because my opinion is they're mean to be together. Well, however…

For those who dislike this pairing, I can understand it. But I don't understand LeonAshley.

Anyway, I really appreciate it if you drop by and R&R. Maybe I'll work out another story between them next time.

Thanks! 