Author's Note: Thank you so much to everyone who read, left kudos, bookmarked and commented on the first chapter! I have to say, I thought this would get waaay less interest knowing how rare the pair is, so it was such a pleasant surprise. Jilleon Shippers unite!
Anyway, here is chapter 2. I consider the previous chapter more of a prologue from Jill's POV, this one is more or less the first chapter, also from Jill's POV, and the next one will be from Leon's. I plan to alternate between each POV from chapter to chapter, and I'm also aiming for a weekly udate schedule, with me posting a new chapter each Monday. At least that's the plan for now. I have up to chapter 5 fully drafted, and still chipping away at 6-it's taking a little bit because it's more action-focused.
I hope you enjoy the read!
2
Jill wakes up to the smell of… pancakes?
She lifts her head from the pillow, glancing at the digital clock on her bedside table. It's almost six in the morning. Her head drops again, buried into the pillowcase. The room smells of sweat and other things. Faint sunlight comes through the curtains. She turns to look at the empty spot beside her on the bed. The door of her bedroom is closed, but she can hear shuffling footsteps in the living area, the clinking of plates and chime of cutlery.
Jill slowly sits up, propping up the pillow against the headboard of her bed before leaning her back against it. She holds the blanket over her body, watching the door expectantly seconds before it opens.
Chris walks in with a tray of food in his hand. His smile is big when he meets her eyes. "You're awake already," he says. "Good."
Jill's lips curl into a small smile. "Good morning." She eyes the tray he's holding, the smell of pancakes now even stronger, awakening her hungry stomach. "You've been busy."
"Breakfast in bed is a good way to start the day." Chris sets the tray on the bedside table before leaning in to steal her lips in a quick kiss. She returns it. "Good morning," he says. "How did you sleep?"
"Good," she says. "You?"
"I think my back is broken." He jokes. "Other than that, I've never slept better."
Jill raises her brows at him. "That's what you said yesterday."
"I know," he says. "I sleep better and better every night. I wonder why."
Jill pats the spot beside her, gesturing for him to join her. "How are we looking on time?"
"No calls from HQ yet," Chris says, crawling on the bed before grabbing the tray and placing it between them. "So, I think we're good."
She nods. After the busy night they had, she'd like a little more time to regain her energy properly. "We still on for that press conference tonight?"
"We should be," Chris says. "I haven't talked to Claire again, but she would've told me if the plans changed."
Today's a big day for the younger Redfield. Finally taking the next big step in her career as the new TerraSave executive, and making some necessary changes in order to increase efficiency and maximize efforts toward helping those in need. Naturally, Claire invited all of them to attend and celebrate together, but most importantly to provide her with support. One can only imagine the level of stress she must be going through right now.
Jill grabs a fork and knife and digs into the pancakes, taking a big bite. "These are good. Thank you."
"My pleasure," Chris says. He takes a bite as well, chews and swallows, then adds, "I tried to check with Leon too, to see if he could make it."
Jill's throat tightens, and the food gets stuck halfway in her throat. She reaches for the glass of water on the tray and sips, forcing the food down before it crawls back up her throat. "What did he say?"
"Haven't heard anything back yet." Chris lets out a somewhat annoyed sigh. It's good to know she's not the only person Leon's been ignoring. "He's probably busy, so most likely he won't be there."
"I see," she says in a flat voice, though she can't help the twist of… disappointment in her stomach. What else did she expect, honestly?
She hasn't seen Leon since that night in his hotel room. And that was almost four months ago. They talked for a bit after exchanging phone numbers, but their schedules have gotten busier and busier, and eventually they stopped chatting. Jill didn't think it was worth it to cling onto something that clearly wasn't going to work out. Even though that night haunts her more than the nightmares that come to her in her sleep.
There's just something about him, about the connection she felt with him—not just that night, but before, too. And she was excited to explore the depths of that connection, if only he didn't ghost her.
"Hey." Chris's voice is soft, tender, his hand reaching over to rest on hers. "You okay?"
That look on Chris's face is all too familiar. It's the one he gives her every time she has one of her episodes. Jill is quick to plaster on a reassuring smile, shaking her head. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about… if we should all go out for dinner after. Might be a good way to end the day. And we don't get to do that as often as we should."
"Good idea," Chris says. "Not sure if Barry or Rebecca can join us. They're making the time for the conference. But… even if it's just you and me, Claire will be happy."
Jill nods. "Yeah, I'm sure."
They finish breakfast and follow it up with a quick, shared shower, before they get dressed for the day and head out in his car (hers remains parked at the BSAA HQ).
Jill is in her office when she takes out her phone and absently opens her text messages, scrolling down until she finds the name she's looking for.
Leon.
Why she decided to skim through their last few exchanges is beyond her, but she does it anyway. Still haunted by Chris's words from earlier, and the disappointment is ever more evident now that she's left alone to her thoughts, and her thoughts are a dark, grim place. Always take her everywhere she'd rather not go.
She starts reading from one of the texts she sent him after he got injured during a mission. To this day, Jill feels bad she couldn't go visit him, even though he reassured her it was nothing too serious, just an inconvenience.
How are you doing now?
Not dying anymore. Progress. Back to work already.
Have you ever considered going on an actual vacation?
Considered. Tried. It never works out. Guess it's not meant to be.
It's till death do us part with our jobs, I guess.
The next message is from him, about a week after that.
Sorry. Been busy. Still am, actually, but hope you're okay.
I'm okay, thanks. And no problem. I get it. Been busy myself.
We should make time for drinks sometime.
Or an actual dinner.
Let me know when you finally catch a minute to breathe.
He never does.
Or at least, he never tells her if he does.
The last message he sends is a month after that.
Sorry. Work happened. And then more work. And then more.
It's okay. is all she sends back.
And that's where it ends.
Her fingers hover over the screen of her phone for a moment, pondering, considering, debating with herself. She lets those dark thoughts of hers win and then starts typing.
Are you coming to the press conference tonight?
But before she hits send, she pauses. Chris already contacted him. Surely, he'd let him know if he was planning on coming. Or at least he'd let Claire know. What difference does it make if Jill asks him?
But a part of her hopes it makes all the difference. That's the problem with those dark thoughts. They want her so badly to believe that the night they shared at the hotel room meant to him as much as it did to her. That he felt that connection the same way she did. That he really was just busy most of the time, or else they would be having their tenth date at the least.
So she surrenders and presses send and throws her phone aside. Now time to distract herself for the next ten hours.
Only, she doesn't have to wait long, because he texts her back about five minutes later.
Her heart nearly leaps out of her chest when she grabs her phone again, but then it sinks to her stomach the second she reads the message.
Sorry. Won't be able to make it.
Her lips curl into a frown, and her phone is tossed aside once more. She doesn't have anything else to say.
And this… this is exactly why she shouldn't listen to those dark thoughts. Why she shouldn't let herself wander too far off in territories she shouldn't.
What the hell is she doing anyway? Chasing after a night long gone? A man she hasn't seen in months? What the hell is she even hoping to happen? She's with Chris now. Has been for the past month and a half. Even if they said they'd take it slow, figure things out as they go, no need to put labels on it or anything. She's moved way past that night in the hotel.
Or so she told herself.
So she wanted to believe.
So much for not being stuck in the past.
So much for not being hung up on what once was.
But tonight isn't about her or about Leon. It's about being there for Claire, and that's what she tries so hard to remind herself of throughout the entire day, all the way until her work shift is over, all the while she gets changed out of her work clothes into her mini-skirt and tank top, up until she's getting in the car with Chris.
"Claire called," Chris says as he drives them out of the BSAA HQ parking and into the main road. "She's really nervous, apparently. I tried to encourage her, but I think you might be a better candidate for pep talk. Think you could talk to her?"
"Yeah, of course," Jill says. She gets out her phone and dials Claire's number. It rings for a while, but no one answers. She tries a second time, and a third. "She's not picking up."
"Must be rehearsing her speech for the thousandth time," Chris says with a little chuckle. "I'm sure she has the whole thing memorized by now."
Jill nods, smiling, quiet, watching the buildings zoom past them in a blur.
"Hey," Chris's hand settles on her thigh, "you sure you're okay? You seem a bit distracted today."
Jill shrugs, places a hand over his. "Yeah. I'm good. Promise. Just a little tired."
"From last night?" He teases.
"What else?"
"We can take it easy tonight," he says. "Watch a movie or something."
"Sounds good." For more than one reason.
The rest of the drive is spent listening to music with the occasional talk about work and making plans for the week.
They arrive at the TerraSave HQ half an hour early, and they waste no time to find Claire in her new office, pacing back and forth in front of her desk with a clump of papers in her hands.
Her eyes widen the second Jill and Chris walk in, and she comes to a halt. "Chris!" she says, and jumps him with a hug.
"Hey." Chris's arms wrap around her tight. He holds her for a moment before Claire breaks away to hug Jill next.
"How are you doing?" Jill asks, rubbing Claire's back for some comfort.
Claire pulls away with an exasperated sigh. "I don't know how I'm doing. I mean, I do. I'm nervous. Really nervous. I keep thinking I'll stumble on my words or say something that comes out the wrong way and—"
"Hey." Chris interrupts her, rests a firm hand on her shoulder. "You'll be fine."
Jill takes her hand and gives her the biggest smile she can muster. "Look at me," she says, and when Claire meets her eyes, she continues, "You've survived how many near-death situations now?"
"Honestly, I've lost count…"
"Exactly," Jill says. "If you can handle bioterrorists and mutated monsters, I'm sure you can handle a room full of nosy journalists. You're here now because you've earned this place. No one handed it to you on a silver platter. You've proven yourself time and again, so don't you doubt yourself for a second."
Claire grins, though her eyes still carry a hint of nervousness in them. "Thanks."
"It's okay to be nervous," Jill says. "That doesn't mean that's the only thing you can be. Your heart can fit in a little more than that. You're brave. Smart. A fighter. And I can tell you with confidence, you'll win this one."
Claire's lips quiver, eyes glisten, then she hugs Jill again, tighter this time. "What will I ever do without you?"
"A lot," Jill says. "You've done all of this already." She holds Claire for as long as she needs to be held, her eyes meeting Chris's, who watches them fondly as he mouthes a "Thank you," to Jill. She shakes her head at him. Claire is family. And it pains Jill to see her struggle just as much as it pains Chris. She's also just as proud of her as he is.
Claire finally pulls back, wiping away what Jill assumes are unshed tears.
"You got this," Jill says.
Claire nods and takes in the deepest inhale. "I got this."
When it's almost time for the conference to start, Jill takes a seat in the back alongside Chris, leaving the front rows for the journalists and camera crews. Rebecca comes first, takes a seat beside Jill, then Barry arrives with Kathy and Polly. Moira will be with Claire on the platform, along with other TerraSave members.
Jill's eyes dart repeatedly to the door behind her, the entrance to the press room, waiting, expectantly, for a surprise late arrival. One that never comes.
He already said he won't show up. Why is she still waiting for him?
And so, Jill locks her disappointment away and turns ahead of her, paying all her attention to Claire as she goes over the latest achievements of TerraSave across the globe. All the lives that have been saved with their intervention. The communities that are being built. The children that are being taken care of, be that by providing them with shelter, or education, or healthcare, and all things necessary. All in all, Claire nails it. She doesn't even trip on her words once. Doesn't stutter. And her answers are confident and direct whenever she's faced with tough questions.
Just as Jill expects.
"There's our little stars!" Barry says once Claire and Moira join them in the big hall. He takes Moira in his arms and gives her a quick kiss on the forehead. "You two were brilliant tonight."
"Thanks, Barry." Moira smiles and wiggles out of his embrace with a fake grimace, going to hug her mother next.
Chris wraps an arm around Claire's shoulder with a tight squeeze. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I need a drink," Claire says, causing a wave of laughter among their group.
"You can relax now, it's over," Chris says.
"Nope," Moira interjects. "This is only the start. I suspect Miss Redfield will be holding a lot more press conferences from now on."
"Which is exactly why I need a drink," Claire repeats.
"Alright," Chris says. "I think we can drive somewhere to have dinner. Barry, you coming?"
"Sorry," Barry says. "I'm gonna let you have this one. We're having a bit of a family thing tonight."
Moira rolls her eyes at that and mouthes "Save me."
"Of course." Chris nods. "What about Rebecca?"
"I would love to, but I have an early lecture tomorrow morning, and I'm already running on three hours of sleep," Rebecca says apologetically. "I'm down to make dinner plans sometime this week, though."
"That's fine. We'll figure something out, I'm sure," Chris says.
Claire walks up to Rebecca and gives her a hug. "I appreciate you coming."
"My pleasure," Rebecca says. "You were wonderful."
"Thanks, I tried my best—" Claire cuts herself off all of a sudden. Her eyes going somewhere behind Rebecca, before she gasps, "Leon?!"
Jill's heart shoots to her throat. She turns immediately to where Claire's looking.
And there he is, holding a bomber jacket that's thrown over his shoulder. Messy hair. Dirty clothes. But he has the biggest smile on him as he walks over. "Guess I'm late, huh?"
Claire leaves Rebecca and rushes toward him, taking him in a hug. "I thought you couldn't make it."
Leon pulls back. "I thought so too." His eyes are on Claire but, for the briefest of seconds, they flick in Jill's direction, and it makes her clutch her skirt. "How did it go?"
"Well, I survived," Claire says. "We were just about to go grab dinner. You wanna come with us?"
"I gotta make it up to you for missing the conference," Leon says. "Count me in. My treat, actually."
"Well, great!" Claire says. "I won't say no to that. You already owe me about a hundred dinners."
Leon gives her a pat on the shoulder before approaching the rest of the group, greeting and exchanging handshakes. He stops in front of Jill last, extends a hand to her. "Hey," he says, tone casual. "Good to see you again."
A breath catches in her throat. Jill reaches with her hand and shakes his. "You too."
His hand lingers a little longer than it should. His thumb brushing lightly over her skin, it makes her shiver. Then he pulls away to turn back to Claire. "Afraid my ride's already gone, so I hope you got space for me. You can also just stuff me inside a trunk or something."
"There is space." Claire takes Leon by the arm and drags him with her, waving goodbye at everyone else, before nodding for Chris and Jill to follow. "Who drove you here?"
"Technically, I flew in," Leon says. "Wouldn't have made it otherwise. I guess, technically, I didn't make it anyway."
"You came in a helicopter?" Claire gasps.
"Of course," he says. "Whatever it takes to support the Boss Lady."
Jill's eyes are glued to the way Claire holds Leon. The way they walk pressed together side by side. The way they talk like they've never spent a day apart from one another. He barely spared her one glance.
It's only when Chris's hand slips into hers that Jill looks away from the pair.
Chris nods ahead. "Shall we?"
Jill smiles, squeezes his hand in hers. "Yeah."
It turns out, Claire is not the only one who needs a drink.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Also, if you're as starved for Jilleon content as I am, be sure to check out some of the artwork I posted on my tumblr: kenkens-art!
Hope to see you again in the next update.