Saved By You

Talking to Sherry had made me feel better. I didn't feel that fear of telling the truth, I didn't feel guilty anymore, I came to understand that I'd be the one to blame only if I quit, because I would leave more people unprotected, due to egoism. What Neil Fished had done would not change the work my comrades and I have done, and the one I want to keep on doing.

It was going to be complicated once the information were revealed to the public, but our actions would speak for ourselves.

I had to wait for Leon, Sherry left a few minutes ago. I used that spare time to cry everything I wanted to cry for —losing Moira, Neil's betrayal, my co-workers' deaths—, because there wouldn't be any more tears. As soon as I were discharged from the hospital, I would concentrate in the investigation. It took me around fifteen minutes to vent out my soul. Then, I laid down to rest, shedding a lot of tears in so little time worn me out. I sighted deeply and let calmness to take over my body, I needed to be calm when Leon arrived, I was going to tell him a lot of information.

When I felt so relaxed that almost made me fall asleep, I heard someone knocked on the door.

—Come in — I said while getting up. A blond man with a leather jacket entered the room. Speaking of the Devil—. What's up,Leon?

—Hi, Claire —he greeted, closing the door behind him—. Everything's alright with me, what about you?

—After today, I will be a lot better than I thought I'd be —he raised an eyebrow —, talking to Sherry made me realize a lot of things —I clarified.

Leon approached my bed, he took the chair that was near the desk next to the bed, and sat down by my side.

—Then it was a worthy move to do — he said, smirking.

I replied to that comment with another smile.

—Definitely, and I'm grateful to you for that. She told me you asked her to come and made me think twice of my decision.

—I thought there was no better person than her for that task. I mean, I could have insisted myself, but having a person you directly rescued , risking everything, to do it, was a smarter move.

—We rescued her risking everything —I clarified, Sherry emphasized in how much the two of us helped her in some way.

Leon smirked again.

—That's true, but she got a lot more attached to you, you're like a mother for her — he said.

—And you're like a father to her —I said suddenly, almost automatically.

Leon and I stared at each other, with a weird and awkward silence between us. It was due to what our words we just spoke implied.

I couldn't help but laugh out of nervousness, and my laugh spread to Leon.

—When did we become parents? I never realized it. When and where happened? — he asked, still laughing.

—I'm not sure, but I guess it was 13 years ago — I replied, going along with the joke.

—Let me remember…it was in Raccoon City, wasn't it? — he said, with naughtiness.

—I believe it was right after we escaped the city — I said, unable to hide my smiling face.

—Righ. Here I thought I wouldn't be able to have a family due to my job, and it turns out I became a father at my 21 years.

—At least you were not at 19, like me.

We laughed a bit more until the joke faded away. It was because of these kinds of things that I enjoyed Leon's company, he put a smile on my face when I least expected it. His concern for me made me value him more, as a friend and ally.

—By the way, I still keep our "family portrait" —he commented, taking his cellphone out of one of the pockets of his pants. I saw him slide the unlock button, he searched the archives for a brief moment and then approached me to show me a picture.

I remembered that moment perfectly. It was on Sherry's 16th birthday, not long after Leon returned from his mission in Spain. In her mere teen years, Sherry wasn't doing well due to the frequent experiments done on her, so, I wanted her to have a nice moment. I contacted Leon in order to spend the two of us the day with her, at least part of it. We threw her a small party the room that became her house for several years. Sherry had so much frustration in her that she couldn't help crying the moment she saw us there, with a cake and everything. She hugged us and thanked us for always being there when she needed it.

Before our small party ended, she asked us for a picture with the three of us, she wanted to have something to remember that moment. She told us she would keep it as a precious memento, like the picture she had with her parents, William and Annette. Since Leon was the tallest of us, he took the camera while Sherry and I posed so that we all could fit in the portrait.

—I didn't know you still had it with you. I mean, back then, the digital era was in its beginner phase. The camera we used was one of the first in the market.

—I have saved it as the technology developed more and more, I didn't want to lose it. Having it with me reminds me of the reason I fight. It helps me to not divert from my main mission — he said, seriously.

I lift my gaze to look at him, only for his turquoise eyes caught mine in some sort of invisible web. I couldn't move anymore, it was as if his look paralyzed my entire body. And the fact that we were so close to each other didn't help either.

—I fight to protect people like Sherry…and you — that last, he said it in a whisper.

My heartbeats raised to his words. I felt my face burning, was I blushing? Why? What he said was nothing special, there were more people like Sherry and I.

But not one of those people survived the same incident, at the same time, with him. We shared the same nightmare.

Okay, maybe his words were a bit special, but there was no reason to blush like that. That was a teenage thing.

—We are very lucky to have you by our side — and why was I following along with this atmosphere so…suggestive? Too much blood in my head blocked my mind.

He lifted his hand to take one of my locks from my bangs, and put it behind my ear. The touch of his fingers on my skin caused goose bumps on me. That was not the first time we had physical contact, why was it causing these reactions on me?

Well, it was also true that we hadn't had this kind of contact… so personal…and intimate.

—My job was been worthy, then — he whispered, getting closer to me as I was getting frightened by the whole situation, but I didn't feel it was necessary to stop him—. You do look nice with your hair done — he said, and the had he had behind my hear move to my ponytail, grabbed the rubber band and untied it. My hair fell to my shoulders.

What was all that about?

Before I could say anything, he took my neck smoothly, and pulled me towards him, the distance between us closed into a surprising kiss. In other circumstances, if it were another man , I would have pulled him away and slapped him as hard as I could, but the one who was kissing me wasn't just any man, neither were the circumstances. The one kissing me was my friend Leon Kennedy, someone I trusted so much, someone who had been watching over me all the time I was unconscious, and even after I woke up. Maybe that was the reason why I didn't dare to push him away.

Or perhaps, I didn't want to push him away. The touch of his lips reminded me of the touch of his hand on mine, when I was lost in the dark of unconsciousness, scared. Feeling his hand took me into a state of peace I didn't want to leave, and his mouth was giving the same sensation.

He's your friend…and you're not in the mood to be romantically involved with someone else.

It was true. I was getting over a betrayal, and there I was, smooching with someone important to me.

I pulled apart slightly, enough for our noses to rub each other. I could still feel his breath.

—What's going on? ...Am I doing something wrong? —he asked, as if it was hard for him to breathe. No wonder, the kiss was very deep.

I opened my eyes to look at him —I had shut them automatically as soon as his lips were on mine—. He had that worrisome look on his face, he did care about ruining something between us. My heart shrugged to this, he wasn't doing anything wrong, quite the opposite, actually. I was feeling so safe with him. It was true that the issue with Neil was fresh in my heart, but so it was the fact that his lips were a warm shelter for the cold storm that was falling in my soul.

Why would I reject something that made me feel protected?

—No…of course you're not. It's just that I can't believe that this is happening —I smiled, a bit nervous, but I just told the truth.

—Neither can I — he replied—. Maybe we should insist on it to believe for real —he said before capturing my mouth with his.

I decided to not overthink about it and just let myself get carried away, I put my hands on his shoulders and give in completely to him, while he took my face between his hands. It's been a while since I felt like this in the arms of a man, it reminded me the first time I kissed my first boyfriend: having a feeling of interest, and the curiosity to discover more about the other person.

My idea of getting to know Leon better didn't have this action in it, but it didn't feel bad at all. I had always seen him as an attractive man, I just didn't have the time to think about it.

Without realizing, I was lying on the bed again, with Leon on me. The intensity of our kissed made him bent down more and more until we were in the position we were. There was no doubt he wanted more, and I wouldn't stop him from get it. My brother taught me to always finish what I started.

He left my lips and move to my neck, tracing a path of kisses.

—Leon…—I moaned his name, literally.

—Claire— he whispered to my ear.

That was going to end in something I never imagined, but I would welcome it with open arms —or legs—. We both were adults past the thirties, we knew what we were getting into, we have trust each other with our lives, trusting him my intimacy would not be any different. I was sure he thought the same.

Just when I was preparing for what was going to come, Leon stopped and let his weight fall on me, as if he had passed out or something. I got scared, what was happening?

—Leon? Are you okay? —I called him, but no answer. I couldn't see his face because it was hidden on my neck. There was no way I could lift him, not in my position and my current strength —Leon, answer me —I insist, but no reply again.

Suddenly, his body startled, I felt it very cold, as if I had a giant cube of ice on me.

—Clai…rre —his words were not whispers anymore, they were more like roars, from a wild animal.

Slowly, he was getting up, until I saw his face…or what was left of it.

The face of the attractive man I knew was gone, the thing before me was a rotten piece of meat, half of his mouth was missing, I could see the bones of his teeth, covered in blood. Those beautiful turquoise eyes were now green, like mold. His paralyzed me, not out of shyness, but out of fear. His skin lost its bright color, it turned into a horrid white.

My eyes were seeing the dead body of Leon. A zombie.

No…not you…please.

Before I could do anything, the hands of that creature prisoned my neck with a strength enough to kill an elephant. He wanted to strangle me, and he would make it if I didn't fight back. I took those cold hands and tried to get rid of them, but they were strong as steel. There was no way I could shove him off.

That had to be a nightmare, Leon could not have ended up like this. He was the eternal survivor, he had made it through lot of situations like I have, he could not have been defeated, he wouldn't allow it. And he would never hurt me.

I shut my eyes, waiting for the horrid image before me to disappear.

—Le-on — I managed to say with my last breath.

"Claire! Wake up!"

I opened my eyes wide, shaking. What I first saw was a pair of beautiful turquoise eyes, his eyes. He had that attractive face again. Was it him for real? I wanted to make sure, I lift my hand and touch his cheek: his skin was warm , and it had its usual tone.

—Cla…Claire, are you alright? —he seemed taken aback.

You're touching his face, something you've never done before.

I discreetly moved my hand away as soon as I realized that. I was a bit embarrassed. I had had a lucid nightmare that made me doubt about my surroundings. I fell asleep when I laid down to rest after crying.

—I…I'm sorry. Bad dream —I said, feeling relief.

—Did something happen? —he asked me, worried.

—Nothing, I think I fell asleep in a bad position —I told him while getting up, Leon was sitting on the edge of the bed —. Sorry if I scared you.

—You were murmuring my name when I came in — he said, and the blood fill up my head due to the embarrassment. I hoped it wasn't from the erotic part of my dream.

—I dreamt you got infected and turned into a zombie —there was no problem in telling him that—, it was so real that I was still confused when I woke up, so I touched you to make sure you were the real one. —I smiled, trying to make it seem so irrelevant.

Leon raised an eyebrow.

—A really bad dream indeed, I don't wanna imagine how I would look if I got infected. A pretty face must look awful when rotting and fleshing —I laughed to this comment, and nodded—. Too bad it wasn't an erotic dream, that murmuring was so suggestive.

I smiled. Leon indeed knew how to turn a bad moment into a funny one.

If he wanted fun, then…

—Actually, half of my dream was erotic. Right after having sex, we were attacked by zombies and that's how you got infected — his sudden change of expression was epic, I could even see a slight blush on his cheeks. I cracked up — I'm joking, Leon! —it wasn't entirely a joke, but he didn't have to know that.

—Got it. So, you feel better now?

"Feeling better" was not the most accurate description to the feeling I had after dreaming erotically with a longtime friend —who I never imagine anything with—. I was a bit shocked that it happened to me for the first time ever. Where could it be originate from?

"You two became the mother and father I always needed."

Sherry. Of course. It must have been an hour since I was told those kind words from her. My mind took very seriously the concept of father and mother. Sherry was one of the reasons —if not the main one — why Leon and I kept in touch. Like two parents who live apart, but still care for each other and their daughter. Giving that simple explanation to my dream, really made me feel better.

Oh, Sherry. Your words were so kind, but they messed up my mind a bit.

—Sure, I'm back to reality —I assured him.

—Nice. I bumped into Sherry on my way here, she told me a bit more about your chat. So, have you think again about your decision?

I sighed.

—Of course. You were right Leon, I just can't leave TerraSave like that, and they only have me to clear this mess. I love my job as a rescuer, and I will not let this incident destroy everything we've done. It would be a total lack of respect to my fallen comrades. Once I get discharged, I'm coming back and focus on the investigation. I'm sure that with the help of the B.S.A.A., TerraSave and the government, the issue will be solved.

Leon smiled widely.

—I'm glad to hear those words from you —he said—, I can't imagine Claire Redfield doing any other job than the one she's doing now.

—Thank you. And thanks for asking Sherry to come and talk to me, she said you were worried and that's why you looked for her help. She gave me hopes about the case, and hopes about Moira.

—Just like you gave her hope in Raccoon City. Or I should say, gave us hope.

What? I knew what he meant with Sherry, but, him? How could I have done something for the heroic Leon S. Kennedy?

—You? You're the one who always protects everyone, how could I help you like that back then? —I was really curious to know.

—I don't know why I never told you this, but, that night, there were moments when I thought of finishing that nightmare with headshot. I was only a rookie cop who imagined himself facing the worst criminals ever, but never facing a bioterrorist threat with B.O.W.'s. I did start to lose hope, until I witnessed how you were so worried about Sherry, and how you wanted to save her. You, who only ended up there because of your missing brother, who held guns for the first time ever that night. You were so determined about it that I decided to keep on, I wanted to save Sherry too, and I wanted to help you out to find Chris. And we made it. Let's just say I was also saved by you.

I couldn't believe I was hearing all that from Leon. I never thought he could feel so vulnerable sometimes. He, the one who had helped me in several occasions, but he was still a human, as vulnerable as any other victim out there. The same people I almost left unprotected if I decided to quit.

I felt a tear falling down my cheek.

—What's wrong? —he asked once he noticed I was crying.

—Nothing, it's just that —I wiped the tears with my hand—,I realized the huge mistake I was going to make if I quit, with your words.

—But you've thought it again and chose to move on, now we should continue with the investigation.

I nodded, and placed my hand on his.

—Thanks again, Leon — I stared at him, and he stared back at me.

I felt a new bond was born between us, stronger than the one we already had. Perhaps it was because that was going to be the biggest case we've worked on together.

Until my mind decided to remind me the moment of my dream when Leon and I kissed like two teenagers in their first relationship.

Well played, mind.

I discreetly removed my hand from his, he bent down to pick up a suitcase I didn't notice was on the floor. He placed it on his knees.

—Sherry told me you were ready to speak up the truth and write a report about it, so I brought my personal laptop. Still ready?

—The hell I am. Turn on that computer of yours, and I hope you brought the charger, this might take some time.

Leon smirked and opened the suitcase, the first thing he took out was, preciselt, the charger, as if he was telling me not to worry about that matter. And just as I promised Sherry, I would tell everything I found out in the island, even if that meant to jeopardize TerraSave. I didn't care that much anymore, Sherry said something right: only the organization itself could clear its name, and I was an important part of the process.

I just had to take the first step.

o-o-o-o-o

Hello, everyone!

First of all, Happy New Year! Hehehe

I didn't take that long this time, and it was because I had vacations from college! But now I'm back to work, and before it gets heavy, I wanted to update.

So, we know now that Sherry's words affected both Leon and Claire 8D. To be honest, I thought of writing another lemon dream, but I came up with this idea in the end. I think it shows perfectly her unconscious fear of getting involved with someone she knows, due to her experiences with Steve and Neil. This will be important later in the story.

I was thinking of making the kiss before the big scene (cofcoflemoncofcof), but I don't think it'd feel real. Adults who are past their thirties can go from a kiss to something else so fast, I mean, they're not in the age of holding back their desires xD. And I have already planned how the big scene will be. But don't worry, there will be a lot of closeness and touching between them before that hehehe.

What do you expect this 2016 regarding RE series? I hope to hear more about RE2 Remake, and that what they are planning is good. And also, I want Alyson Court back as 19 year old Claire!

Remember, if you like the story, please follow and favorite, but more importantly, leave a review, it would help me to continue (more than 20 favs and follows, but only 5 or 6 people leave review D: )

See you around!