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Abrupt. A best fitting word to describe the last two weeks. One day, basking in some down time in the comfort of their apartment. The next— gone in the drop of a hat, like a dog to a whistle. Off to save the world….and then back again in broken pieces… that’s the way life had become.
Normally, his return warranted a weekend or so off, help mend the surface wounds, re-establish some normalcy for the both of their sakes. This time however was different. This time she was met with a phone call— a woman— introduced herself as Hunnigan. Blitzed the redhead with the news that Leon had survived, although not without some concerning wounds before reassured that he would be okay. Temporarily treated in a hospital in Spain before flown back to the U.S. and undergoing some invasive surgery. A very straight to the point woman. Claire couldn’t comment much but- she was grateful enough for the line of communication. Certainly more than what she previously had when it came to Kennedy’s workplace. She’d been lucky if she even got any word at all let alone his current status. Claire never understood the appeal working with these goons… more so now than before with the things they knew.
Straight away the auburn hopped out of bed and snagged any article of clothing within reach and out the door.
At the hospital, the pristine white floors and halls left more of a unsettling ambiance rather than the safety it should’ve warranted. Individual steps echoed wherever the young woman went. Must’ve been a slow night given the empty halls she continued to pass. Twenty minutes of being pointed off from one end to the other all the while thoughts lingered in the back of her head how she hated being here. Hated that Leon was here to begin with. Hospitals only felt like bad omens. Maybe it rooted from childhood memories or the eerie familiarity it resembled to a place long gone into ash but nevertheless—
Finally reaching the nurses station she’d been guided to, hands landed on smooth fiberboard desktop and body leaned eagerly in hopes to get what she needed and go. “Excuse me, I’m looking for a patient;his name is Leon Kennedy “
Glancing up to the young woman, a rather older woman gave a lack of reaction- hell even a glimmer of care- to her words. Mouth smacking away at some gum all the while paused midst what must’ve been a priority of a word puzzle.
“ And your relation to the patient?” The lady asked, flippant as she set down the pen and book to redirect towards the computer.
“ I’m his Girlfriend. My name is Claire Redfield. “ Nervously, Claire’s foot tapped against linoleum floors.
“ I’m sorry ma’am, but unless you are married or immediate family I can’t let you go in. “ The attending nurse dictated professionally- yet rather hollow, hands still typing away at the desktop. Woman must have been drained of the same song and dance on a day to day basis at the rate responses flew out with little break.
“ You don’t understand,- “ Claire pleaded, riding on patience to avoid getting annoyed herself before cut off once again
“ Ma-‘am, I understand your urgency however there are no authorized visitors on file for this patient. “
“He doesn’t have any living family,… I’m all he has….. ” Strategic in her words, she hoped that it’d provoke enough sympathy to give her a pass. “ Please. “
Silence hung only for a moment though only broken by the sound of echoing heart monitors.
Typing stops as the attendant pauses, with enough focus a resigned sigh could almost be caught. Glancing up for a moment to see the redhead and her entreating expression, then around the hospital floor. Almost as if scoping around for any wandering eyes…or ears in fact… The clattering of the keyboard picked up once again. Corners curling, a noticeable switch like an actor putting on a performance. “ Ah, my apologies Mrs. Kennedy— “
Mrs. Kennedy? Claire raised a brow, a surprised glint in blue eyes.
“ I must’ve clicked on the wrong patient file. I see you right here, authorized visitor: Wife, Claire Kennedy. “ A sly grin as the greying woman says it. In her mind probably having some fun herself provoking a later conversation for the couple. “ Let me get you a badge printed out real quick. “
Thank god . Relieved, tension melted the stiffness in Redfields palms. Mentally noting a reminder for the both of them to update emergency contacts and visitation for future purpose. This wouldn’t be the first visit and surely won’t be the last. In the forfront of her mind the name rattled, as the nurse wheeled their way to the other end of the station to meet the printer.
Claire Kennedy . Didn’t sound so bad.
“ Alright, here’s your visitation badge,” a small laminated card is slid across the tabletop towards the auburn. “ He’s in room 316. That’ll be down the hall on your left, all the way at the end. Can’t miss it. “
Claire’s quick to snatch the ID with a delighted smile and a gracious ‘Thank you!’, pinning it to her jacket. Echoing the directions over and over in a whisper before one last comment holds her from speeding off.
“ —By the way, I think your husband owes you a very nice ring. “ the nurse winks with a pleasant grin, returning to their business and letting the young woman go.
“ I guess he does.” Claire humors the attendant before shelving the thought for another day. She had to make sure the idiot stayed alive long enough for that. Preoccupied with finding the numbered door first and foremost the young woman jogged off in the directions recited in her head.
Silence hung in the air of the room, occasionally pulsed with the sound of monitors, and broken even more by the sharp squeak of door hinges cautiously opening. Dim lights made for a bleak ambience that could quite literally suck the joy out of any moment. ‘ All the more reason to hate this place’, Claire thought to herself.
She didn’t expect him to be awake. Figured a nice concoction of medication and anesthetics woulda kept him down- but he must’ve forced himself awake. Looking ghostly as ever, with just about the worst case of bed head she’d ever seen. Arms crossed she meandered her way over to him. A comforting smile accompanied by some playful banter. “ You look like shit. “
Leon manages a grin at the heavenly familiar voice, he didn’t have to open his eyes to know it was her. Gracing him with about the most comfort he’s felt in the last two weeks with just the sound of her voice. “ I save the world and this’s the warm welcome I get? “ it hurts to laugh, but a faint chuckle is there through a scratchy voice.
It earns him a kiss, and in that moment nothing couldn’t’ve felt more like heaven. The delicate touch of a warm hand brushing back blonde strands, how it settles at Kennedy’s cheek sparking just a bit of color back to dull skin. Claire pulls a chair close to the bedside, leaning against available space eyes keeping to him. Examining features, Claire takes notice of bandages on his shoulder, the way his arm was strategically placed strapped in a sling, the precise cut on cheek that had long scabbed over.
“ Alright, Rookie- what are we working with. “ Spoken ever so casually yet tinged with a trace of disappointment. The same song and dance as many times before, Claire resigned a long time ago to the idea of a day without injury.
“ Couple of titanium plates to fix some bad fractures.“ He blinks heavily- trying to shake the rest of the fugue away and refocus. “ I don’t think the doctors were a fan of my own patchwork. “ Quick to jest. Quick to keep the mood out of a solemn note. Leon knew it was impossible to keep her from worry, the least he could do was compensate with some light heartedness.
“ Can’t spray and bandage everything better, Kennedy. “ Claire hummed.
“ It’s gotten us this far hasn’t it? “ Leon countered with a grin. Yet it wasn’t enough- he could see her mind start to wander and the smile dimming. “ Hey… “ Though his body was still wrestling with anesthetics a free palm slid perfectly into hers, embracing her body heat, and regaining her attention. “ I’m fine…. “
The words hang for a second. Letting it settle in her nerves and echo away in that head of hers. Hard to believe when he’s laying there in such a state. But all she had was his words to hold onto, and the promise he’d always come back.
And right as the light back spring back into blue hues the agent chimes again,
“ Except—- I’m absolutely starving right now. “
Thank god he was injured, because laughter aside, Claire had to stop herself from giving him a good knock at his side. “ You’re an ass, y’know? “
Far more awake now, Leon brought her hand up pressing a kiss along soft knuckles. “ That’s why you love me. “
‘ Men.‘ Head dropping with a surrendered sigh, Claire looked at him again, “ Alright Mr. Hero, what do you want? “
“ McDonald’s? “
“ The usual?”
“ Yeah. “
“ Alright. Oh- and by the way,” As Claire sits up readying to depart, a single digit taps to the name badge clipped to her shirt pocket , “ -While we’re here, we’re ‘ married ’. Hospital won’t let me in if I’m not immediate family. “
By the way his head promptly lifts to the words, attention fixed to the name typed out in bold lettering, he’d have sprang up in bed if it weren’t being freshly cut and sowed. ‘Claire Kennedy’
How it sounded— like two pieces that perfectly fit. The thought certainly floated Kennedy’s mind many times before. Amongst the nights when they were apart, during the little moments where life felt just right…. Even during the instants where life was near being snuffed out on the things he’d miss out on. He wanted to marry her that was for sure— the topic had just … been out of reach. It wasn’t like marriage wasn’t in the picture. At least for him. But he knew Claire was Claire. She wasn’t a traditional girl, she was a spitfire, a free bird who wasn’t afraid to get dirty, the take charge and stay out of line if saw fit, and yet so filled with love and care. He wasn’t sure on her standing and wasn’t sure how to approach the topic— until now. “ Just while we’re here? How about all of the time? ”
Barely pausing midst stand Claire gives him a raise of brow to the question and an airy chuckle, “ Not if that’s how you plan on proposing. “
Yes? No?
“ Just testing the waters, Red. “ Leon reassures with a nervous chuckle. Hoping the heart monitor didn’t rat him out on the hastened pounding in his chest.
“ Well the waters hot , Rookie. Better not wait til it gets cold. “ She stares him down teasing the poor man with a quick wink and grin before disappearing out the door.
Sooooo…… Yes? That was a yes right?
~~
Claire had stopped by the apartment, figuring to grab a few things for the stay. Anything that she knew Leon probably forgot in his own ‘Go’ bag when he left for his assignments, and of course a blanket for herself. Then after a brisk trip to McDonald’s it was back to the hospital.
When she got back to the room he looked to be more lively and back to his normal hue. Even more thrilled to finally have ‘ something normal ’ to eat, and it showed as the man went in on his fries. Then nuggets, then big Mac. That was definitely more reassuring than any ‘ I’m fine’ in her book.
Unlike him she ate at her own pace, a contrast to her partner for sure. After a while together she’d relented to letting him pick at her own food because- believe it or not- the man could really eat when he wants to, and it wasn’t like she ate much on her own anyways.
Eventually they finish, Claire cleans up and disposed of trash, and despite her urgent protest Leon defies ( as per usual ) and moves from the hospital bed to make some space. Boyishly encouraging her and annoying “his wife” to lay beside him, and she does.
Laying on her side she finds a comfortable spot resting aside him, refraining from putting too much weight against him even if it was his ‘good side’. Blankets drawn over them, and Desperate Housewife’s providing entertainment Claire couldn’t help but envy the cluelessness out there. It must’ve been nice- to be so disconnected from reality. Where the biggest problem in their lives is a late order for an event or a dress alteration gone wrong. They’ll never know the true horrors of the world…… the desecration of flesh and bone….the destruction of greed.
“ So—“ Claire humms, left hand resting over his abdomen- thumb tracing gentle circles, as right digits continuously comb through soft blonde locks. The ebb and flow of his rising chest and echoed heartbeat nearly lulls the young woman to sleep. Heavy lids struggling to lift and refocus. “ Wanna talk about what happened over there…”
Blue eyes held to the bulbous TV screen through slow and heavy blinks. Just when he thought he’d shaken off the fatigue- Claire drew it right back with every gentle drag along his scalp and the comforting warmth on his side.
Her words finally processed after a 5 second delay, focus broken to look at her. “ Hmm? “
“ Spain . “
Leon mulls it over. Chest rising and falling in a deep breath- It’s an unavoidable topic…etched into history and reminders seared into flesh. Doomed to be discussed over and over, from suits to personnel, craving all the little details down to ammunition and every step with the presidents daughter. It’s nothing she hadnt heard before. An all too familiar nightmare. However it’s what comes next that unsettles. Maybe not now…maybe in a few days or the next week— but it comes …once the weight of it all caves in…and it fills him with dread. If he could grasp at some peace for a little while longer—- The least he could hope for in the moment were conversations with ghosts…the goodbyes and thank you’s…whether they were truly visits or simply a figment of the subconscious- he wasn’t sure but it was a seldom comfort against the alternative.
Scooting her closer into his side Leon made use of the auburns head as a rest. The smell of jasmine and rich amber tickled his nose from the young woman and reminded him of home. A scratch still prickling at vocal chords prompts a low murmur in response, “ I’ll tell ya all about it in the morning, Red. “
And she seemed content with that. He was alive- here right by her side. Safe . That was all Claire could ask for.
The two teetered the fine line between awake and asleep. Dozing off to the comfort of shared warmth and the median pitches of beeps and reruns, and it’s at the edge of hibernation Leon pipes up, eyes shut and tuned into only her voice and breathing. “ Hey, Red…”
“ Hm ?”
“ Would you really want to marry me…?”
Silence. For a second he thought she must’ve succumbed to sleeps grasp.
“ I would like to…but you have to promise me to stay around long enough to do that…. “
There’s a tuft snort in response, his hand moving to brush at the crook of her back.
“I’m not going anywhere anytime soon Red…I promise.”