Chapter Text
“We’re getting married!”
Chris Redfield had never been happier in all of his twenty-eight years of living.
The entire STARS office erupted in cheers, hoots, and hollers at his announcement, pouring out heartfelt praise and congratulatory remarks as he embraced his fiancé, Jill Valentine, and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
Amidst all the celebratory chaos, he scanned the office for his sister, Claire, and motioned for her to join his side, immediately throwing his arms around her and lifting her up in elation. He’d invited her to the office under the guise of ‘meeting up for a brother and sister lunch,’ but it turned out to be ruse for his surprise engagement announcement instead. Clever.
Claire wondered what would become of the turkey sandwiches she’d purchased from Panera on the way there.
“Woah there,” Claire chuckled as she was hoisted into the air. “Never took you for the sappy type.”
He wasn’t, but his enthusiasm was fitting of the high-spirited mood. He’d been head-over-heels for Jill since they first met, and the two had grown closer over the course of a commendable five-year partnership. That and his line of work had potential for an entire seminar’s worth of risks not even limited to death of all things, (guaranteed seventy-five percent chance of getting shot at every time they’re out on patrol) so although Chris’s exhilaration was a rare sight, by all means it was entirely welcome. Refreshing, even.
Guy deserved to live a little.
“That your way of saying you’re happy for me?” Chris gave her another squeeze before releasing her from his grasp.
“Of course I’m happy for you,” Claire replied, smirking. “Now if you’ll excuse me. Gotta go warn Jill of the risks.” She nodded toward the woman in question with mischief in her eye. She was chatting about wedding planning shenanigans with Barry Burton. (“Spring wedding? Summer? Don’t have it at the beach! The sand will get everywhere!”)
“Risks? What risks?” Chris smiled in confusion. “Of becoming a Redfield?”
“No. Risks of becoming your spouse.”
“That was too predictable, Claire. Your quips have been slacking lately.”
“I’ll be sure to tune up properly for the grand wedding toast.”
“And I’ll remember that when your wedding rolls around.”
“Chris! Congrats!” Rookie officer Rebecca Chambers interjected the wholesome sibling banter to offer adulation for the upcoming nuptial and play peacekeeper simultaneously. “How did you pop the question? I need to know!”
With Chris distracted, Claire snuck off and meandered her way to his desk to oblige her relentless craving for the turkey sandwiches. All the commotion had evoked quite the appetite.
Before she could so much as look inside the plastic bag, Jill had surfaced seemingly out of nowhere, addressing her with intent.
“Hey Claire,” she said, tone filled with a gentle kind of sincerity. Like Chris, it wasn’t exactly an everyday thing to see this softer side of Jill. Love really does strange things to people, Claire supposed. “I know it might be a bit early to ask, but I was hoping you’d be one of my bridesmaids.”
Claire’s eyes widened in shock. The query itself hadn’t surprised her; it was the timing that had her slightly disconcerted. Everything felt like a blur, flying past her at a mile a minute.
Her brother was a bachelor five minutes ago. Now she was face to face with her future sister-in-law. She needed a moment to process it all.
“Yes, absolutely,” Claire answered on impulse. “I’d love to.”
“Well, I’m doomed.”
Claire had mindlessly agreed to a myriad of wedding-planning related activities and affairs before the weight of such commitments had her crashing back to reality.
She’d mostly wanted to appease her brother and fulfill whatever familial obligation applied to these circumstances but now, although her intentions were pure, she was inadvertently bound to a range of daunting tasks varying from dress shopping to scoping out possible venues for the ceremony. Yikes.
But the real dilemma was by the far the last thing she’d expected to impose a rather irksome inconvenience.
She didn’t have a date for the wedding.
Claire Redfield, a vivacious young woman who was no spring chicken by any means, was single for the first time in what felt like ages.
Her previous fling had ended a few weeks prior, and while it was nice having a little more freedom in the social aspect of her life, it did nothing to quell the inexplicable panic swirling in the pit of her stomach.
“You’re not doomed,” Rebecca assured, replacing Chris’s role as both the voice of reason and lunch buddy for a stressed-out Claire. “The wedding’s not for several months. You’ll find someone before then.”
The two were seated at her desk, wolfing down their respective turkey sandwiches as though recovering from a city-wide famine. (Claire was definitely eating her feelings, while poor Rebecca was simply starving.)
“Easy for you to say,” Claire sighed, deflated. “You have a boyfriend.”
Rebecca gulped, her face coated entirely in scarlet. “Um… well, it wasn’t exactly something I planned,” she explained. “Some things happen when you least expect them.”
Like Chris and Jill’s surprise engagement for example.
“I guess you’re right,” Claire conceded, already resigning herself to her fate. “If worse comes to worse, I’ll just go stag. Nothing wrong with flying solo.”
“You could,” Rebecca drawled half-heartedly, like she was bracing her audience of one for the punchline to her favorite twisted joke; Irony. “Or… you could rekindle an old flame.”
As if on cue, Rookie Officer Leon Kennedy walked into the office, dual arms accommodating the burdening weight of a fortified stack of papers. (Chief Irons being the rat bastard he was just loved having him as his personal errand boy.) Before he could set the thick leather-bound files on Albert Wesker’s desk, he was immediately engulfed with news of the Redfield/Valentine engagement, surrounded by his fellow cohorts like a flock of gossiping hens.
He managed to squeeze in his regards for the lovely couple after hurriedly fulfilling his task. Barely.
“Congrats, Jill,” he expressed with a quick hug, a little frantic but polite as always. “You’ll have to give me the details the next time we all go out.”
His inquiry to Chris’s whereabouts informed him he’d left for patrol shortly after the announcement.
Jill assured the rookie he’d have a chance to extend his felicitations in a more suitable setting.
“I left an invitation to the engagement party on your desk,” she told him. “I really hope you can make it.”
Leon nodded. “I’ll be there,” he vowed. With that, he turned and left the room, eager for his next task.
Whether his instruction consisted of filing paperwork in an endless array of cabinets or answering the call to a cat stuck in a tree (“But Sir… I thought that was the Fire Department’s job…”) was of little importance to him. His heart was set on performing each and every assignment in dutiful fashion. Not a single job was beneath him- and he was never one to half-ass anything.
Claire Redfield certainly admired him for that.
Her eyes wistfully followed his trajectory out the office, an act that hadn’t gone unnoticed by an astute Rebecca.
“He’d say yes,” Rebecca said without context.
“What now?” Claire asked, rousing herself from an awkward daze.
“If you asked Leon to be your date, he’d say yes,” Rebecca repeated. “It’s obvious he still has feelings for you.”
Claire chewed her lip, considering the possible repercussions. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea…”
Leon Kennedy wasn’t quite an ex-boyfriend, but he was an ex-something. They’d dated briefly after being formally introduced at some RPD function about a year ago. It was a wildly popular tradition for the Raccoon City Police Department to take on their age-old rivals, the Raccoon City Fire Department, for their annual charity baseball tournament- as was the case in most Midwestern cities without a professional sports team. (The good citizens have to stay entertained somehow.)
Claire had only agreed to attend to support her brother. (He’s a pretty stellar pitcher, she has to admit.)
But when Leon came up to bat, her heart fluttered uncontrollably like a scene out of those obnoxious rom-coms where the leading lady swoons over her love interest at the quintessential first glance. Or, to put it in less romantic terms, it was merely an unconditioned response that provoked her thirst.
She couldn’t help it. He was cute- and he was athletic to boot. Good combo.
Thing is, they were never official. Even after several dates with favorable outcomes, deep conversations at three in the morning, and sex with some strings attached, Claire had insisted there was no need to prioritize a committed relationship.
Leon, unfortunately, had not shared that particular sentiment.
But they agreed to remain friends, in spite of the residual… emotional baggage.
“You should go ask him now,” Rebecca advised. “Before someone beats you to the punch.”
Claire heaved a sigh. “He seems pretty busy. I’ll call him later tonight…”
“If you leave now, you might be able to catch him before he reaches the elevator.” Rebecca flashed her watch, as if already set to start her timer.
The circumstances were hardly dire once Claire put everything into perspective, but she’d be lying if she denied she still felt something for Leon, too. The all-too-familiar warmth that rose in her chest as she watched him leave the room was clearly a testament to her fondness for the rookie cop.
It might take some adjusting, she reasoned, but she was capable of accomplishing this strictly platonic feat. They were adults. They got along swimmingly. There was no question they’d have fun as they always do- regardless of whatever label was slapped onto their relationship status. And if Leon was already invited to the wedding, well, that just made it all the more convenient.
“Fine,” Claire yielded with a shrug. “But we’d just be going as friends.” She stood from her seat and power-walked to the door, insisting she would return shortly.
“Sure thing,” Rebecca called after her, finishing off the rest of her sandwich in pure satisfaction.
Rebecca’s prediction had been accurate, much to Claire’s advantage.
She caught up to Leon right as he was about to thumb the elevator call button, and braced herself for some quick-witted improvising.
“Hey, Leon,” she called, making her steadfast approach. “Wait up!”
“Claire?” Leon had the typical look of confusion seared on his face; the one that made him look like a lost puppy. Adorable. Hopeless, but adorable. “Hi.” He stalled awkwardly for a moment. “What’s up? You need an escort to your car?”
Oh Leon… Claire smiled and shook her head. “No thanks. I’m fine,” she replied. “But I wanted to ask you something.”
Leon seemed curious at that. “Sure. Shoot.” He waited patiently for her to continue, eyes locked with hers as he tuned out the distracting environment of the mild foot traffic down the adjacent hall. He gave her his full undivided attention, like everything else was mere background noise.
He often looked at her that way; with a softness that sparked unfathomable longing and desire. He seldom smiled with his lips but it was his eyes that revealed his sincerest and purest emotions, like windows to his soul.
It gave Claire the irresistible urge to smile. Maybe he had that effect on everyone without even realizing it.
“Are you free this weekend?” she finally asked once she’d caught her bearings. Her impromptu plan comprised of a casual hangout (brunch at their favorite place) where she’d ease into the subject of Chris’s wedding and her unprecedented dilemma. She opted to spare him the details of said dilemma- for now. They had plenty to catch up on in the meantime. Kill two birds with one stone.
Leon ran a hand through his hair as he mulled it over, and all Claire could think about was how her own fingers had gently grazed over his forehead through the same fawn-colored strands before. Oh the nostalgia.
“Yeah, I’m off Sunday,” he replied.
“Great! Let’s do brunch!” Claire proposed before he could ask. “At our usual spot.”
Leon was a bit taken by surprise as he was usually the one to initiate their social outings, but he had no qualms with the roles reversed. In fact, he kind of appreciated it. Reciprocity was always nice.
“Okay,” he agreed. When it came to Claire Redfield, it was that easy for him.
Claire pressed the elevator call button, considerate of the fact that he was due elsewhere.
“I’ll call you later,” she affirmed. “We’ll figure out the exact time when you’re not knee-deep in police work.”
The elevator doors opened with a ding, but Leon seemed hesitant to enter. He rubbed the back of his neck, a habit meant to ease his nerves.
“Claire, I…” He trailed off, words eluding him.
Claire gave him a sympathetic smile. “It’s okay. Whatever you want to tell me can wait until we see each other.”
Leon nodded in understanding, aware of the time constraints. Lieutenant Branagh was expecting him.
“Right. See you then,” he said as he stepped inside. Before the doors merged together, he quickly parted with: “Tell your brother I said congrats, by the way.”
“I will,” Claire replied. And he was gone.
She instantly felt relieved, compiling a step-by-step plan in her head. Okay, Sunday brunch. Simple enough.
“It’s a date,” she mumbled to herself. “Well… not an actual date…”
All right. Off to a semi-decent start.
Maybe she really wasn’t doomed.