November 05, 2021, Leon Scott Kennedy, that rookie cop that fought over a dozen zombies from a place called Racoon City 23 years ago, is now getting wasted in a bar alone at midnight in whatever place this is, even he does not know, he is on his vacation from being the most relied on agent of the government in the United States of America. He came here by riding his big bike despite the snowy road, not knowing where to go spend his useless free time in a cold weather like this, except that he predicted that he'd end up drinking at the first place he sees that provides alcoholic beverages, "Another shot", he orders the bartender as he finishes up his 17th shot for the night whilst getting $5 from his pocket and placing it on the counter, at this point...he's just waiting for someone from the white house or the headquarters he's based in, an agent or whoever to come and pick him up to do another assignment, they always track him down and he's well aware of that, it has always been that scenario ever since he was forced into the damned job.

Just as the bartender provided him another shot, he immediately picked the small glass up and finished it within a second, before requesting for another one, "Are you sure you want another order sir? You're the most wasted customer I've ever had since I got hired here.", the young bartender remarks, as he notices that the almost middle aged man appears to be seconds from throwing up and passing out.

"Just shut up and give me another one boy, I've got nothing to live for anyways, so who cares if I die here drinking.", he replies groggily, with eyes half opened as he takes out another five dollars, slams it on the counter, and the young man obeys out of fear, he takes Leon's shot glass, filling it up with the alcohol he bought 18 shots ago and thuds it down at the counter, before Leon could swipe his hand to reach the drink, another person from behind his left shoulder snatches his drink and chugs it before slamming the shot glass to the counter empty.

"Hey! Who do you think you are, stealing my shot like that!", he yells angrily, not yet looking at the person but at the glass he's been using for the past hour.

"You're so wasted Leon.", the stranger who stole his escape from reality speaks up, he was expecting a man but instead he heard a woman's voice, a familiar one.

Leon chuckles, "Alright- alright, you lawmakers got me.", he continues as he assumes that the organization found him like expected, he then rests his head sideways on the counter, closing his eyes completely, "Take me to the mission bosses, I'll be sober in a second.", he smiles, totally drunk as he is saying absolute nonsense.

"I don't know if you're just being sarcastic or you really think I'm someone from the government...because I'm not.", he heard this, and giggles still not believing, "Oh don't play dumb with me girl, the president sent you to get me and be his combat toy again."

"Wait...no, It's Claire you silly.", the woman reveals her identity, he then quickly opens his eyes to confirm, and there he saw the beautiful woman standing a few feet from his left, his eyes were a bit blurry but he can make out her basic features and figure, from her bright blue eyes, her head full of red hair tied in her usual ponytail, to her iconic red leather jacket, "Claire.", he mumbled under his breath, and his thoughts were interrupted, "I thought you'd recognize me by voice, especially when we've known each other for years now.", she crosses her arms over her chest, she somehow resembled her older brother doing that, Leon thought.

Claire then turns to look at the bartender who's been eyeing the two of them and listening, "Can I ask how many shots have my friend here taken?", she asks, nodding towards the drunk man.

"He's ordered 18 shots in total of the drink with the highest alcohol content, as requested by him.", he replied, every now and then glancing at the woman while cleaning glasses and storing things up.

Leon is still resting his head on the counter, whilst staring at his friend,eyes half closed, somehow getting lost in her beauty, he's never seen her in a way like this before, of course, his friend has always been very pretty and they've had a few- sexual tensions in the past but...he's never felt in love with her before than now. Maybe it's just because this is the first time he's ever been so wasted while she's around and she's a woman?, sure they've had a drink or two in the past, but he was not this lost in the head. Claire shakes her head, disappointed, at the same time not surprised as her friend has always been an alcoholic ever since she met him, she sighs, before breaking from her crossed arm pose and reaching for her jean's right pocket to reveal a 10 dollar bill, she hands the money to the young bartender, "Here, please take this as a tip for your patience with Mr. Leon here, I'll be taking him now.", he thanks her and she smiles, before taking a few steps towards Leon, once she was at a distance where she could reach him, she squats at his level before grabbing his left arm with her left arm and swinging it over her shoulders while she places her right arm on his back and waist to support his weight, he then stands up as she does, his head swinging as he is not supporting it enough, "Where are you taking me?", he asks her as she turns him to face the entrance and take a few steps towards it, at this point, the bartender saw Claire lifting the man and decides to step in and help her assist him to her vehicle, he takes his right arm and does what she did earlier, "Isn't it obvious enough Leon? I'm taking you back to your condo, whether you like it or not.", they were halfway from the exit, "How did you even find me here? I was doing just fine.", the wasted agent questions, while his head is still swinging, looking at the floor, "Well...let's say that I just happened to run into you, just like the night we met...and don't lie- you don't look anywhere near fine.", she answers, grunting with every step, Leon is a heavy man, all of that muscle built from years of hard work is taking a toll on her, this is the first time that she's not been grateful for her friend's lean muscular body.

"The night we met, I'll never forget that time, especially when for the first time ever, you came into my life.", he remarks sincerely but with a drunk tone in his voice, his choice of words somehow not as appropriate as she thought he would use them, but it was just enough to put a smile on her face and muster up the strength to carry him, after a few minutes, they have managed to reach her car and make him sit in the passenger seat, he has his eyes closed, resting his head on the head rest, she thanks the bartender for his help before parting ways as he goes back to the bar and she makes her way around the front of the car and into the driver's seat, she searches for the keys and starts the vehicle's engine, she glances at Leon still in the same position, but without a seatbelt, she reaches for the other side's seatbelt, leaning away from her seat and adding to the fact that she is a few inches away from his face, she's managed to grab the belt but before she could pull it over him, his head leaned towards hers and his lips touched with her's, she flinches but freezes in her place, although feeling butterflies in her stomach at the same time, she's always had a soft spot for this man, and she will admit that she feels more towards him than just a friend, but she can't confess that in front of him, not when he's in love with somebody else for as long as she can remember, he mumbles a bit, "Ada.", as his head fell to rest on the right window. For Claire, that name was enough to pull her back to reality and wrap the seat belt around her friend, buckling it up and return back to lean perfectly aligned to her seat as she places her hands horizontally on the steering wheel, turning on the radio and perfectly the song "The Night We Met by Hometown", starts to play, she just lets this be for the sake of not driving in complete and utter silence, all she needs to do now is drive her friend back safely to his home, but also go as fast as she could so she could get over this absurd heartbreak she's currently feeling.

An hour of driving and Claire finally reaches her destination, Leon's place, she has parked her car in the spot where he would've always left his big bike in, speaking of his motorcycle that was left back at the bar, she will just get it towed, first thing in the morning, she looks to her right to see Leon in the same pose as when they left the previous place except that he has crossed his arms, and is now snoring in his sleep. The woman turns the engine off, open the door, and gently closes it back, she goes around the front of her car to get Leon, silently praying that she can successfully support his weight all the way up to his condo as she can remember was in the 10th floor, hopeful that all of the elevators also aren't out of order.

She leans down to unbuckle Leon from the seat before gently slapping his left cheek two times to wake him up, "Rise and shine Kennedy, we have a long journey ahead of us.", she exaggerates, and thankful that Leon flinches and half opens his eyes, somehow looking towards her.

"Hey beautiful.", he tells her, now that's a new compliment, Claire was surprised but does not think much out of it, "Even after getting awfully wasted, you still have a way to flirt with girls don't you?", she comments, while picking Leon up like she did in the bar but this time with his right arm, the elevator was only a few steps away as his parking space is a corner to the right, and so are the elevators. Claire has managed to bring her and Leon into the lift and presses the 10th button, she was using all her strength left as no one can imagine that a 5'7 woman like her can carry a 5'11 male, the elevator dings as a notification that they reached the floor, she helps him step and lead him to his door, "501", as written on the door, the number on Leon's keys that she got from his pocket are the same and she unlocks his front door, not stopping until she finds his bedroom that was located on the last right door and places him on his double bed, she sits at the left edge of the bed, his body was practically smashed against the mattress due to his weight and this caused him to be more wake than he was before, but can you blame her?

She makes sure he is fine to leave alone, and it looks like he will survive the night but not a hangover in the morning, contented, she stands up and places his keys on his bedside table, but before she can take a step, a hand pulls her forcefully by her left arm and she falls on top of Leon on the bed facing him, she was utterly shocked by the sudden move, but she recalls that she has seen this all before from him, "Stay with me, Claire.", he mumbles, she doesn't know what to do as his arms are wrapped around her body and their noses are touching, she's admitted to herself that Leon is the perfect description of her type of man physically, but mentally- no, his personality is so unpredictable to her.

Seconds later, he leans up to kiss her lips, as the sober one, she knows where exactly this would lead to, her mind is telling her to break the embrace and leave as this is wrong...very wrong, but her heart is telling her to follow his lead, that's what it has been boggling her for as long as she knew this man, October 1st, 1998, was the last time she did, and now she did it again.