No More Running…
Leon/Claire fic.
It's time to stop running…and start loving.
Claire woke to the smell of something cooking. She sat up and stretched, she looked around and saw that Rusty was still in the room; he lay on his side on the carpet, his mouth was slack and his tongue stuck out. Claire realized she was still dressed in the clothes from the day before, she quickly ducked into the bathroom in her room and got a quick shower in. Claire threw on a button up shirt and a pair of khaki shorts, the dog stretched and got up as well. Claire brushed her hair then ran the comb thru the dog's thick fur, Claire giggled as the dog tried to get the brush untangled from his fur.
She went downstairs and saw Sherry sitting on a bar stool, chatting with Leon who had his back to Claire and was at the stove. Claire inhaled the smell of breakfast. "Pancakes?" Sherry whipped around in her seat, the blonde 18-year-old girl smiled at Claire. "Who knew he was such a great cook? Whoa, what happened to him?" Claire turned and saw that Rusty made his way downstairs and still had Claire's brush tangled in his fur. Claire giggled again as she turned to the younger girl, "I gave him a brushing he will never forget." Sherry giggled as well as Rusty collapsed on the rug by the backdoor.
Leon turned towards the two girls and set a plate of pancakes down infront of them. "Regular. And I'll havechocolate chip up in a minute." Sherry smiled as she forked two pancakes onto her plate. Leon smiled in return but Claire could see the pain in his eyes. Leon walked back over to the stove, Claire noticed the way he walked. "You're limp's better." She blurted out. She didn't mean it. Claire closed her eyes and lowered her head, Sherry looked down at her pancakes as Leon dropped the spatula. He rested his hands on the side of the stove, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
"Yeah. I got rid of the cane. They took the brace off a couple of months ago." He spoke, his voice sharp and grave. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…" Claire whispered. "Finish your breakfast." Leon spoke again sharply, Claire could detect a slight bit of anger in his voice. Sherry pushed her plate forward. "I'm finished." "Go watch TV Sherry. Leave your plate. Me and Claire need to talk." Leon spun around to face Claire as Sherry left the room, the dog followed her.
Claire pushed her plate forward and rested her arms on the table. "What do we need to talk about?" "Don't play fucking dumb with me Claire. I'm not in the mood. Just remember: I was against this idea." She never head Leon talk like that to her. She spoke again, her voice almost a whisper. "What ever happened to that young cop I met back in Raccoon?" Leon knew what she was talking about. After Raccoon, he was so quiet around her and then after Spain he wouldn't take her calls. Leon spoke and as he did he regretted what he said to her: "I killed him and forgot about him. Just like you did."
There was a tense silence for a few minutes. Then a yelp from the next room followed by: "I got the brush out!" Tears welled up in Claire's eyes. "You…you bastard." Claire was off the stool and infront of Leon. "You never wanted to talk about her. You just kept it bottled up. You never told me you saw her in Spain." "Cause it wasn't your business." "My business? My business. You're still in love with her. Can't you see she used you? Not only once but twice!" Leon folded his arms across his chest. "What about Steve?" "He's different." "How? You loved him and he treated you like dirt." "At least he didn't betray me cause I'm not so fucking gullible!"
SMACK!
For the first time in Leon's life, he hit a woman. Claire hit the table and fell to the floor, holding her left cheek. She took her hand away and the distinct shape of Leon's hand was left. Tears fell from her eyes, she pressed her hand again to her cheek and looked up at Leon. With rage in her eyes. She quickly got up and smacked away Leon's hand that tried to help her up. She looked at him and slapped him as hard as she could. Leon's head snapped back as a imprint of her hand was left on his cheek.
Claire just shook her head at him. "Why didn't you just die?" And with that she ran upstairs. Sherry quickly ducked her head back out the door as Leon leaned against the sink. Claire ran to her room and slammed the door shut, she threw herself on the bed and sobbed into her pillow. A short time later, she heard a knock at her door. "Go away." She sobbed. "Claire?" It was Sherry. Claire got up and unlocked her door. Sherry came in and sat on her bed, she folded her hands in her lap. Claire sat down next to Sherry, Leon's handprint still shown brightly.
"Do you want to talk about it?" "I guess I should. You weren't there for what happened Sherry. We kept you away so you wouldn't be involved. Something happened between Leon and Steve, basically I made a mistake and it almost cost Leon his life." Sherry tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "What kind of mistake?" "The worst kind." Sherry seemed confused so Claire continued. "After Leon was injured by the Tyrant, I had to help him up. Steve led us out, he ran out of ammo for his gun so I gave him Leon's Blacktail. I realized this as my fatal mistake.
"Steve must have realized we would never be together and I guess it drove him crazy. He turned on us, he pointed Leon's pistol at him and Leon drew my pistol. Steve must have thought he was weak and shot him, Leon took it in the chest. Leon fired out of reflex and clipped him the shoulder, Steve fired again and hit Leon in the thigh. They shot each other, Leon feels that I betrayed him. I practically dragged Leon's body to the lift. Steve was already dead." Claire shot a look to the door. Leon's body filled the doorway "Don't stop. You're on a roll."
Claire continued. "Leon was nearly dead as we headed to the surface." "You're wrong about one thing. I didn't feel betrayed until after I got out of surgery remember?" Claire nodded. "Yeah, Leon had to go into surgery and I left. When Leon came out, I was gone. I never told anybody where I went." "That's a interesting question Claire. Where did you go?" "I went back to Rockfort. I went back because of the memories of me and Steve." Sherry took this all in, she sighed and stood up. "I guess you two have some catching up to do." "Not necessary anymore, I heard Claire's story. I'm sorry."
What will be Claire's reaction? Will she forgive Leon? Find out in Chapter 4: Mending over, Loving now.