PROMPT 6: ANNIVERSARY/FIRST MEETING
Synopsis: Leon thought being hospitalized wouldn't be so bad after all.
#not beta read #Post-Resident Evil: Death Island
Claire just exited the conference room stuffed with exhaustion. The long hallway echoed with the sound of her pumps contacting the marbled floor as she headed off to the elevator. She just finished a six-hour meeting with BSSA personnel, NGO corporate executives, and government directors. It was excruciating.
She has been relocated near the capital, to lead a team that is a working branch of the liaison unit for healthcare and public relations specifically for biohazard incidents. With her position now, his involvement was quite demanding considering the unit was still infancy phase. Therefore, it forced her to spend more time in the office and attend meetings rather than join in the field assignment like before.
Although the work could be challenging, it provided her the freedom to direct and decide on what funding and resources to be deploy into the affected area. And that was crucial. While waiting in the elevator, she pulled out her phone from her jacket and noticed six missed calls from a number registered in the location of the capital city. Strange...
Right when she exited the elevator, she heard her secretary answering a phone call, "Miss Redfield is still in the meeting, what can I get you-?" She stopped upon seeing Claire pass her workstation. "Wait a moment-"
"Claire, you got a call from GW Hospital. They said it was urgent. They said they have been calling you all day."
So that is where the calls came from. She nodded and took the phone receiver.
"Hello.", said Claire.
"Hello, am I speaking to Claire Redfield?", a feminine squeaky voice can be heard from the other end.
"Yes, this is Claire. How can I help you?", queried Claire.
"My name is Alice, the resident nurse at GW Hospital. I'm calling regarding our patient, Leon S. Kennedy. I wanna let you know that he has been HELO in for-"
Claire cut her explanation due to her being impatient, "Is he okay?"
-*-
There was chattering outside the room that Claire waiting in. She lifted her head from the file that she brought from the office, the door swung open as the nurse pushed Leon who currently sitting in the wheelchair. Leon looked bewildered when he saw Claire sitting on the sofa leg crossed with a file in her hand.
"Claire?", said Leon.
She put the file on top of the coffee table along with her glasses and started making her way toward them.
Both men were gaping at Claire as she walked across the room. It was a short walk, but it was long because the situation felt like in slow motion for both males.
For Leon, this was a very unusual sight of Claire. He normally saw her in a simple white shirt, jeans, and her familiar red leather jacket. When visiting her at her home, it was just normal clothes that people usually wore. A few times he saw Claire at government functions or charity events that required her to wear something formal like a long dress or a gown.
This time what Claire wearing was no different, no way something out of the ordinary. At his workplace, he has seen other women wear formal business suits, whether typical office workers or field agents. However, they were nothing compared to the effect that Claire radiated toward these two men.
Claire wore a burgundy long-sleeved button-down shirt; where the top button was purposely unfastened, and was tucked into the toupe wool knee-length pencil skirt that hugged her bodyline with a brown skinny belt wrapped around her waist. The fitted jacket matched exactly the skirt as it was most likely a set.
Her suede-pointed pumps had the matching shade of her hair, which was not in style in her usual ponytail. Instead, they loose freely with waves and bounced as they followed the rhythm of her walking revealing her pearl stud earrings. As she got closer, the air was permeated with her perfume scented with floral, citrus, and warm spices.
"Leon!", Claire's clear voice snapped both men from reverie.
She stood literally in front of him, one hand resting on her hip and the other making a snapping sound to get his attention.
Goddammit. He cursed to himself. Clearing his throat, he answered, "Yeah-" Even though he was not sure what she was saying a moment ago.
Claire studied him, unconvinced.
Leon shrugged off her scrutiny and said, "I can walk from here. Thank you, Ronnie."
As soon as he tried to stand, Claire immediately moved to his side, helping him. He turned to her with a grin from ear to ear. Truthfully, he had no problem walking for a short distance, but if this situation allowed him to be this close or intimate with Claire he would not mind. Encircling his waist by his right side she helped him to walk to the bed, minding his shoulder injury on the left.
"Thank you. Maybe I should get sick more often. This is nice.", said Leon.
She frowned at him, "Is this how you say I'm not nice during normal time?"
Stupefied by what she just said, he retorted, "What!? No. Why do you always misinterpret what I said?"
She snickered at his frustration. Quietly, Ronnie took note of his cue and left with two of them without interrupting their bantering.
"No. I'm not." As they arrived by the bed, Claire released him as he carefully climbed the bed and tried to get situated.
"So you want me to be candid huh? Okay, what I mean is I enjoyed the intimate touch that you offered me just now. Get it, Claire?" Smirked plastered on his face, very pleased with his commentary.
Claire, on the other hand, was blushing. She strengthened her jacket and pushed the fringe of her hair towards the back of her ear. She shyly took the seat on the visitor chair next to him.
Changing the topic might be the right idea to save her from more teasing, so she said, "This is some fancy room you got here. Are these the perks of being -the favorite- of the government?"
"And for spouse too. Interested?" Leon wiggled his eyebrow, he having fun.
Claire thought he was relentless. She just hummed ambiguously while looking around. Avoiding his gaze.
When he noticed her tense demeanor, he restrained himself from tormenting her further with his witty remarks. "How do you know I am here?"
Looking back to Leon, she replied, "Apparently, the hospital called and said you named me as your primary emergency contact."
"Ooh.." He just realized the situation, he continued, "Yeah, I changed that seven years ago. I thought it's best to have someone that lived closer."
"Really-?" Claire was skeptical of his answer. If since seven years ago, Sherry lived a lot closer to Leon than her.
"Of course. And usually, I got all thicked -okay- for the medical check routine. Only this time, I was HELO in the unconscious. So that's that."
Upon hearing his explanation, she stared at him with baffling look. To avoid more questions from her, he quickly said, "But I'm glad you're here though. Do you know what day it is?"
Her eyes turned soft and smiled, "Today is the day I met you. Of course, I remember."
Leon mirrored her smile, "I'm glad you did. Twenty years, huh? That is how long we have known each other."
"And fight bioterrorism too." They both grimaced at the reality that she had thrown.
He added sincerely, "That one thing. But it doesn't change the fact that I am so glad that I met you."
And so did Claire, "Me too."
"Maybe we should commemorate our 20th anniversary of meeting each other. That will be awesome.", said Leon with a cherry voice.
Claire giggled at his enthusiasm and added "And meeting Sherry too."
He chuckled, "Yup. If not, she will be furious to know we leave her out. But, it's really a shitty time right now to be celebrating while I'm stuck on recovery."
"It's okay. We'll find a way.", said Claire apologetically. To cheer him up, she said, "I called Sherry on the way here. Inform about you. Currently, she's overseas. So you only got me."
And that's got him, he replied, "You is all I wanted."
She shook her head hearing his reply. She left her seat and walked to the sofa, stating, "Can you be serious for once?"
"I am serious-" Leon's response upheld when he caught her bending over by the coffee table gathering his files and glasses, and putting them into her tote bag.
He quickly shifted his eyes to his lap afraid to get caught as she turned and walked toward him. Crossing her legs, she took a seat at the same previous chair.
While she placed her tote bag beside the chair, he muttered under his breath, "It should be illegal for you to wear that suit."
"Why? Is that bad?" She was checking herself.
"No. It's just you're too fine to look at. I'm sure you make every person's head turn when you walk by dressing like that." He spoke softly, seeming unhappy.
"Don't be ridiculous. No, it is not. Plus, you know I don't wear this every day right?"
"Well...you got me and Ronnie just now." Leon admitted, ashamed of it.
"So I dress nice and you don't like it.", said Claire puzzled.
He returned her remark frankly by, "Oohh I love it. But only you dress it for me. Alone, just me. Nobody else. Privately."
"Don't be a child." Claire lowly huffed. Then, leaning back in the chair; she had a mischievous smile flashed on her face, and with a velvety voice she said, "Let's be honest, you'll not be loving the suit for a long time if you are alone with me. Nobody else. Privately."
Claire let out a hearty laugh the moment she witnessed his reaction, a mixture of daze and plain dumbfounded. He must not be expecting her to say something bold like that, she thought. She decided she had enough of his witty jesting, spirited teasing, and dauntless flirty comments.
Leon's daring flirtatious behavior started right after their big fight four years ago. She did not know what motivates him for his changing self. Yet right after she broke the news that she had been seeing someone before their unfateful meeting in Alcatraz, he looked dejected.
Nonetheless, he was receptive to the news and toned down the joking and teasing. But then, it came back again when she revealed to him that their relationship split about a year ago. And now, a month after relocating to the neighboring city near the capital, it got kind of difficult for her to digest, some of it. Because it started to confuse her feelings toward him.
When the silence was too long for her to bear, she asked, "So, this is not the image before I sent you off a week ago."
"It's an occupational hazard. You understand.", said Leon softly.
"What happened? You always have a clean bill in medical check after field assignment." Claire leaned closer to the bed, attentive wanting to hear from Leon.
"Well, shit happens. Sometimes you ain't that lucky." He said nonchalantly.
Claire was silent. She stared at him, with concern wary eyes. When Leon noticed her distress, he said "I'm fine, Claire. It's just a nick on the chest. They will take it out and I'll be alright again."
Leon reached out and held her hand. He gave her a gentle squeeze and an assuring smile. She simply nodded.
"That not I've been told. They say you have a fragmentation that moving to your heart." Her thumb created a small circle on his palm. She loved doing it when they held hands.
Looking at her, he explained "Yeah, we finished the BOW stylishly with loads of hand grenades. Let's just say, my calculations were wrong I was too slow to run out of the blast. Considering the condition of the party, I'm grateful only to escape with a hairline fracture to the shoulder and concussion to the head." He ended with a playful wink.
"And a rogue fragmentation that gonna pierce your heart." She giggled.
"And the sunray that starts to poke my eyes" He squinted due to strong light from the sunset.
"Okay. Okay." Claire stood up and walked in the direction of the glass window. The clicking sound of her suede pumps caused him to stare at her again. Ogling her to be exact. At her backside truthfully. That skirt showed off her well-toned long legs. Strong legs...He wondered sinfully how those strong legs wrapped around his waist while he-
Leon's train of thought was interrupted by Claire's cussing. "Fuck! It's stuck."
She did not help him either with that exclamation. He focused on Claire again. "Er...not sure. The staff does it."
She walked hastily to him at the same time peeled off her jacket and tossed it on the eating table. "You okay? You looked kinda flushed."
If she had known the truth. "It's the sunlight. What are doing?" asked Leon when he saw Claire was hauling the visitor chair.
"I'm gonna be your hero and unstuck to whatever that is.", said Claire.
"Claire just call one of the nurses-" Now it was his words that got stuck. Claire was now barefooted, rolling her sleeves, unfastening the second-most top button of her shirt, and tying his hair to a messy bun. She climbed the chair, tiptoeing trying to pull the beaded string of the blind to get it moving. The sight was indeed pleasuring. He swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Ahhah! Gotcha!" exclaimed Claire feeling victorious. She turned to him with a Cheshire smile. She added, "What do I get to be your hero?"
"Don't jump-" She did exactly what she was told not to. He could only shake his head.
She slotted her barefoot into her pumps, lifted the chair, and returned to Leon's side. She slumped to the seat, crossed her legs, and leaned back on her seat. Her hair fell gracefully after she pulled the hair ties.
She exhaled strongly "That's my workout for today." She dabbed the sweat on her forehead with the back of her hand. She wet her lips when she noticed his staring.
With a husky voice, Leon asked, "You asked what you get in return for being my hero right?"
"Oh? Yeah." She placed his elbow on the edge of the bed, interlaced her fingers, and rested her chin on her hands. She bashed her eyelashes playfully, eyes wide looking at him. She coyly played along.
He leaned in closer to her. She was unmoved, only just tilted her head with a smile on her face. He brazenly gazed at her with her hand endearingly removing her fringe away from her eyes. She was still unmoved.
Gently, he cradled her beautiful face and with a leap of faith he planted his lips tenderly on hers. She was stiff at first, and then he felt her hand run through his head subsequently he deepened the kiss. Passionately, Claire reciprocated his kiss with the same weight as his. Leon thought, that maybe this was the only commemoration that he only longed for after twenty years awaited.
Notes:
After two times in a row, I wrote something angsty and hurting. Surely this one should be fluffy.
