Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Resident Evil characters, Capcom does.
Claire carefully twists the door knob as she shuts the thing, she had just calmed and put down Sherry for a little while, the teenager had to comfort the child to sleep, the youngster was too scared to be left alone in the room, having such trauma of the zombies and losing both her parents, having to leave her mother behind and also witness her father turn into a mutant in just one night so Claire did almost everything she remembers her parents did with her when she was little to ease her mind and put her to slumber whenever it rained or when she feels like there was a monster under her bed, from telling stories to singing a lullaby and after some time, the 10 year old girl fell asleep. Looking back as she heard the snap, confirming the door is closed. The trio had managed to walk from the ruins to where she lives, it was a long distance and they had to take a break every three hours but thankfully they got there before midnight to rest, eat, and clean up. They were exhausted, they all were, especially Sherry who Claire had decided to let her sleep in her bedroom, she would've stayed with the girl but she needs to check up on Leon too.
Going back, Leon was there also, waiting and resting on the couch as he examined his own wound. He had also removed his bulletproof vest, unbuttoned and removed his uniform and shirt earlier when he showered so his top was revealed but he managed to put his polo back on. Claire had also managed to find some clothes that her brother left for Leon to borrow, in fact the clothes might look oversized when he wears it considering that her brother is a tall and muscular man. She had helped him remove the gauge over his wound as well, replacing it with a new one, she had plenty from her supply of first aid kit. She had also looked at the wound earlier and she can say that whoever patched him up was great in first aid. She was assuming that he also had met a companion back in Racoon City even though he had not mentioned anything about what happened hours ago up until now and she understands, it was a nightmare and surely no soul would want to relive it even in their memory.
Walking over to sit down next to him as she observes him, they were technically still strangers to each other's eyes, only knowing names and little to know detail of one another so she starts a conversation, "How are you doing? Does it still hurt?", she asks, gesturing over to him as he looks at her.
"Uhh no I'm fine...it doesn't hurt that much anymore, thank you though.", he replied, smiling, she had done a lot for him tonight, "How about you? Are you okay?"
She smirked, "Yeah, nothing really hurts...I'm just exhausted, but first thing's first tomorrow, we get you to a hospital for further examination.", she stated, "By the way- if you don't mind me asking...how exactly did you acquire that wound?"
"I- it's kinda dumb really but...I took a bullet for an FBI agent.", she knew it, he did have someone with him and she sighed of relief knowing he wasn't alone after all that...but taking a bullet for someone else?
"It is dumb Leon, you shouldn't be risking yourself like that...did you even know that person before?", she questioned.
"No, but it was my duty to protect people and I did with her.", he looked away, remembering who he is referring to also died, and he failed, "Well let's just say that I saved her just like how you did with Sherry, we're all strangers just trying to help each other out."
Her...so it was a girl he was with as Claire thought to herself, "Yes, I get that you're a cop and the comparison and all but that's not how it works...nevermind.", she gave up, she could already tell that he is going to be difficult to deal with, but she unintentionally stared at him. He- is handsome and she couldn't help but admire those little features, from his long soft, shiny, dirty blonde hair that falls onto each side of his face, those sparkly blue eyes, pointy nose, kissable lips, his prominent Adam's apple and small moles scattered on his neck, those muscular biceps and bust...it was also the first time she ever saw him half naked, but she long assumed that he had a lean built despite the thick clothing he had on before, also considering that he is after all a cop, he was trained and he is the perfect description of her ideal man- she can admit to herself that she does have a crush on the cop...and she should stop, it was the wrongest timing to lust for someone.
All went silent when Claire derailed the topic and gazed at him for a long minute, she didn't mean to bite her lips while she did but she couldn't help it and she didn't even notice that he saw it. The atmosphere of the room became suffocating so he spoke up, not wanting to believe his suspicions on why she looked at him like that, "How about Sherry though, she's asleep?", Claire flinched, she was pulled away from her thoughts and there she realized what she was doing, she stopped and looked away embarrassed, "Y-yeah, took some time but she's sleeping now...I'm also going to be truthful- and I honestly don't know what to do with Sherry once we fully recover...I still have to find my brother Chris. How about you? Do you have any plans once that time comes?", she looked back as she locked eyes with him.
"I honestly don't have any family left to go back to so- like what I said, I'll stick with you guys for as long as you need...and- you don't need to worry about Sherry. I'll look after her so you can go find your brother.", he informed her, he means it dearly, "We can also adopt her both when you come back like she always wanted."
"I personally think we're too young to be adoptive parents, and we barely even know each other...we can be her guardians though.", she reached for his shoulder as a sign of gratitude, and he nodded, "Seriously Leon, thank you, it means a lot. But I promise, I'll come back as soon as I can when I do.", and he nodded, raising his left arm to reach for hers but failed to do so as he flinched from the pain, causing for Claire who is beside him to worry as she quickly stood up in front of him to see his wound and saw that it was bleeding once more, "It's bleeding badly, you stressed it out by flexing it, you didn't need to do that.", she reached for the first aid kit on the coffee table in front of the couch, got another gauge to replace the stained one, "I need to replace it again.", she murmured as she sat down on beside him, this time on the left side if the couch
"I'm sorry Ma'am.", he joked by calling her formally, but he still thought that it was appropriate to address her like that since she is still a stranger...a pretty one perhaps.
"Don't give me the police officer treatment now, as far as I'm concerned- you're like a friend to me now.", she smiled at him while she worked on the damaged area of his shoulder. He observed how she does it and she was good at it, gentle and accurate, he doesn't also really know her yet but he knows she's a kind one, "...I know it should be none of my business but- you mentioned that you have no family left? I'm sorry if my question could be quite triggering for you. I just would like to know you better...basically anything about you that you want to share.", she asked shyly and cautiously, she didn't want to hurt him.
"No- it's fine that you asked really because that means you get to tell your story too.", he replied and she smirked a bit, finishing up wrapping his wound and settling down on the couch to prepare to listen. "I- lost my parents when I was around Sherry's age, murdered while I was lucky enough to get saved by a police officer and- that is why I aspired to be one...but I don't think I did really good on my first day on the job. I was actually late and my shift was supposed to be the morning of September 30th but unfortunately and I guess fortunately- my now ex-girlfriend broke up with me, I drank and as a result- a hangover, that's why I was delayed.", he explained and she bobbed her head understanding.
"It's really tragic to lose parents at such a young age, me and my brother...we lost both our parents from a car accident when I was also around the same age as you and Sherry. It was all the more depressing when you had them all your life...and then in one instant- they're gone forever.", she looked up, blinking a few times in a row to stop the tears from coming, it was a hard thing to think about but it's her reality now- for years now even...she found other things to distract her from the thought and majority of it included having lots of relationships and- sex. She's aware that it was wrong but it was the only thing that really kept her mind away from the memory...she knows that they would've been so disappointed in her now- there's no way they're not when even Chris lectures her for it and it will often caused for the siblings to clash and she reasons that she can make decisions on her own now...she's almost 20 years old.
Seeing her state of emotion, Leon can't help but feel empathy towards her, they had gone through such similar experience, even Sherry did recently and he knows that the little girl was still hurting but just hid it through questions and jokes, he didn't question her- knowing how it feels and instead tried his best to comfort her in the way that he can. Him and Claire...they weren't together throughout the majority of the incident, only knowing of each other's names, came to the city together and met at the fence, undeniably also flirted a bit...who could blame him? She is a beautiful girl and now she's more than sad. Scooching over to her he gently embraced her with his right arm, meaning to turn his upper body in an uncomfortable position, but he doesn't care about that, what he does is the fact that she needs comfort and he will give it to her. They are all very much traumatized by all that happened last night and he really had to bring up all the bad memories that he had in his lifetime, basically torturing himself as it is, but he doesn't blame her for being curious, he is with her as well, wanting to know more than just a 19 year old college student who wants to find her brother.
She is still crying, as she uses her hands to cover her face and wipe her tears. It was embarrassing to be so weak in front of a stranger but she was just really hit at her weak point, and she blames herself for even starting the conversation with that subject. She then felt a sense of warmth as he placed his arm around her, "Let me comfort you for a while Claire.", he whispered, he meant it as a new friend and he didn't even think twice that it ever sounded weird, but a muscle memory of hers decided to do something else entirely, her head was rested under his chin and on his bare chest, he just had his unbuttoned uniform polo as a top and intentionally she placed her left hand on the side of his neck, lifting her head to look up at him as his hand brushed on the side of her waist. She locked eyes with him as he gazed at her as well, confused that she has her palm on his right cheek, "I think I need more than just comforting Leon."
That's when he knew what was going to happen as she slowly closed the distance between them, her lips only a few centimeters away from his. He knew he needed to pull back- resist, but he just froze in his place, couldn't move as their lips touched...she kissed him and he couldn't do anything about it but give in as he did the same. Putting pressure on her lips as he leaned towards her, placing his hand on her waist, not even remembering the pain he's feeling on his shoulder or even bothering to glance if it bled again, all he wanted now is to be near her as she feels the same. They found a sense of safety and comfort within each other, and that led to something more than just what new friends should do...they coped from all that happened in that way.