Work Text:
Chris Redfield is a professional. He is a trained commander that has defeated countless enemies and monsters with his team for decades, and has worked to create a task force that helps fight BOWs and bring peace to the world. He is an expert at bringing everything back to his breath, zeroing in on the important matters at hand, and completing his mission with efficiency. Suffice it to say, he could handle his emotions and stress with military control in almost any situation. Almost.
It had been a really hard day at headquarters, with the BSAA having to shut down almost half of London in order to control a new outbreak caused by an overturned truck carrying toxic mold. During all this, Chris had to take on the role of an office lackey, calling local officials and having to talk through the situation to people who weren’t used to dangerous, grotesque zombies roaming around their city streets. He was only used to so much yelling because of his military training, but Jesus those people could scream. Towards the end of the day, Jill grew to pity him and allowed him to go home at sunset, which he quickly and silently thanked her for with a bone-crushing hug. She laughed and returned it, smacking his ass on the way out and telling him to, “get back to the wife and kids.” Chris chuckled and signed out.
Once he got into his car, he exhaled deeply and looked at his phone to check his messages. He had one from Mia, talking about a new lead on a case from the US about another cult leader who was mind controlling his victims in the Nevada desert. Chris rolled his eyes, another lunatic he probably will have to deal with, but he smiled at Mia’s message.
When he and Ethan first started dating, Chris did find it a bit weird to be working with his boyfriend’s ex-wife, especially since Chris had put her and her family in so much danger. Mia had told him it was okay, Chris couldn’t have known Mother Miranda would murder Ethan and try to torture Mia. At first, he didn’t believe her, especially after he was partly responsible for putting the family in such a dangerous place, but after a while, a natural friendship soon blossomed. Now, she would come over for movie nights and recitals at Rose’s school (the little girl was an excellent piano player), look after Rose when Ethan and Chris had a date night, and even bumped shoulders with Chris like they were old friends while out for drinks. Which, Chris thought, kind of made them old friends.
The man chuckled at the memories and saw another text from Claire about her vacation in Australia, which she sent many photos of. She told Chris it was a ‘work trip’, something about a lead on the origin of the mold they discovered back in Louisiana, but the way the koala was nestled into Claire’s shoulder and the content smile on her face told Chris it was more of a much needed break. Chris chuckled again, he loves his sister a lot, but next time he’ll have to tag along. For business, of course.
Then he saw a few texts from Ethan, which made his eyes brighten. The one that made his heart shine, though, was the one stating that, “dinner is almost ready! I love you, hope you had an amazing day :^)” accompanied by a picture of himself and Rose cuddling on the couch watching a movie, with the latter dozing off on her father’s arm.
Chris was a professional, and had a good reign on his emotions. For Ethan, however, his facade always cracked. And by cracked, it meant wiping at his eyes while he drove home.
----------
Ethan was many things. He was a courageous and bold man, willing to dive head first into any danger to defend those he loved, even at the expense of his own safety (many lost gallons of blood and a severed hand can attest to that). He just wanted a normal life, with a partner and kids and a house in the suburbs, like the one he grew up with, and he was willing to fight for that life. He thought he had found that in Mia, but, obviously, Mia had a few surprises waiting for Ethan when they got together. The man was never one to hold a grudge and never blamed Mia for putting him or herself in those dangerous situations, but Ethan does wish he had a heads-up on what her real job was. In retrospect, maybe she could’ve chosen a different career path, like a doctor or an engineer, or literally anything else.
However, it’s in the past, and Ethan knows everyone is now safe in a new home near BSAA headquarters in the US. After the situation in Romania, the Winters and Chris had decided that the best course of action was to move back to the States, specifically somewhere close to BSAA North America HQ. Mia and Ethan were understandably hesitant on moving again, however their desperation (and the blonde man’s subconsciously growing crush on a certain leader) was enough to convince them of the move.
Chris had visited the couple after they settled in, too, and tried to comfort them, going over the safety protocols put in place and how Chris and BSAA were just a call away. No matter what was in place, though, Ethan couldn’t help but feel anxious. His family seemed to be a magnet for scary ass shit and moving to another state probably wouldn’t fix that.
However, Ethan’s problems quickly changed from his safety to his marriage, which was falling apart before his eyes. Before, he was too busy trying to make a life with Mia and Rose that he didn’t even see Mia’s reluctance. He didn’t see how she grew rigid when put an arm around her shoulders, or how she would brush off any provocative flirts Ethan would throw her way. How he couldn’t see the stars in her eyes when she looked at him anymore, or how she no longer held his hand willingly. After the trauma of the village and knowing Mia would be okay, Ethan thought he felt like his heart was too strained for anymore heartbreak; how life liked to throw him surprises it seems.
In her defense, Ethan knew Mia appreciated him trying to make the marriage work. She did love him and tried her best to show that love in her own way, but after everything that had happened, she grew to see Ethan as less of a husband and more of a best friend. They had been through so much together and could tell Ethan anything. She could trust he wouldn’t tell a soul and they had so much fun together when not trying to do couple activities. She loved her husband, so, so much, but in the end it became less of a marriage and more of a friendship. Which would’ve been fine except they both had needs, and Mia could tell Ethan had an eye for one big and beefy hunk who made the rounds checking up on them, especially on Ethan.
The blonde man chuckles now at how oblivious he was to it all, the longing stares, the soft touches against his elbow or his lower back when Chris would move past him. How Chris would literally flirt with him whenever the bigger man would get plastered, complimenting his eyes and sitting close enough their knees touched. Mia, after the divorce was finalized, had told Ethan this during a movie night, much to the surprise of the man. How could he have been so ignorant?
He giggled again at the flashback. After Mia spilled the beans on everything, she drunkenly consented to and endorsed Ethan to court Chris. The man blushed and shied away from the topic, not knowing that Chris already had a plan to ask Ethan out for ice cream and a movie the next day. Ethan quickly agreed and tried his best to be presentable (he hadn’t been on a date since he met Mia, five years ago), only to find Chris Redfield in his black turtleneck looking like a model out of a GQ magazine holding a bouquet of blue and white tulips, Ethan’s favorites. Man, was Ethan lucky to have Chris as a boyfriend.
A car’s brakes broke the blonde out of his daydream and he quickly started setting the table. Ethan was still off of work for the time being and it was his turn to host their date night, so he decided to cook instead of getting take out as they usually did. He made Chris’ favorite, BBQ ribs with grilled corn and sautéed potatoes, hoping it would help Chris ease out of work mode, which the man rarely did as is.
When he was done setting the table, Ethan checked the baby monitor to confirm that it was okay, Rose was safe , and exhaled deeply. There was a knock on the door and Ethan opened it to a boulder of a man hefting him over his shoulder and nuzzling his tummy. The shorter man huffed in shock and giggled as he felt Chris kiss his tummy and then set him back down, enveloping Ethan in a crushing hug. He returned it and nuzzled Chris’ neck, feeling the rough texture of his beard against his smooth skin.
“Geeze, someone missed me huh?” Ethan grinned as he felt the man chuckle and pull him closer.
“You don’t even know baby, love you too,” Chris murmured as he pulled back just enough to cup Ethan’s jaw and kiss him, wanting to put as much love into it as he could. Ethan kissed back and soon they separated to catch their breath.
“Damn, I should send cute pictures of Rose more often,” Ethan grinned as he chuckled and grabbed Chris’ hand, directing him towards the dining room. Chris pouted.
“Did you send me those pictures just so I would kiss you from how cute you are? Didn’t anyone tell you it’s not good to use your daughter as cuddle bait?” Chris joked as he followed Ethan into the dining room, taking off his coat and sitting down. He started his meal with delight as he held hands with the man he’s growing to love more each day. Ethan looked at his boyfriend as he complemented the food, the blonde knowing he was a goner for the man messily eating potatoes, and loving every minute of it.