Chapter Text
claire’s fingers fiddled with the hem of her dress, the rough sequin texture a grounding sensation. she’d come to this gala for work, but was uninterested in making conversation with the top 1% that flooded the ballroom. they laughed about the state of the world, completely and utterly removed from reality. it made her blood boil that they could smile about bioterrorism to her face, a proper terrasave employee. she didn’t know why she’d been sent to attend this event anyways, knowing that they wouldn’t care about anything she had to say.
she deserved to loosen up a little if she was here anyways, and grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing tray , throwing it back in one go.
one glass became two and two became three. claire thanked the lord she had picked smaller heels for the evening, rather than her typical stilettos, even as she stumbled into the back of a well-dressed man.
she became flushed when she realized she’d made a fool of herself and apologized profusely.
“oh my god, i’m so sorry, i didn’t–”
“claire?”
she looked up at who could possibly know her, and her heart stopped.
leon kennedy was looking at her, eyebrows furrowed with concern. her stomach flipped at the sight of him.
“leon?” her voice was soft.
she hadn’t seen him since…well, since 2006. even with her keeping tabs on him through chris, it wasn’t the same as seeing him in person.
he was just as handsome as she remembered, if not more so. he had an attractive five o’clock shadow that brought out his eyes. the ones that were staring at her incredulously.
he took notice of her state, her off-shoulder dress slipping down a little. his hands hovered over her shoulders, hesitant to touch her. she huffed a little and attempted to steady herself, but her knees gave out just as she tried to collect herself. not missing a moment, leon caught her arms and chuckled. his hand slipped to her waist to steady her.
“let’s get you home,” he said, voice soft.
claire shook her head. “i’m not done with work.”
“you are tonight, claire. you need to go home.”
she wanted to protest, to fight back and tell him “i don’t need to” “i’m strong enough” “let me do this”, but she couldn’t say anything but let out a weak sound of protest.
she held onto the lapels of his fine suit, grieving a little at the wrinkles she left behind as he pulled her into a cab and told the driver some address she didn’t know. terrasave had given her a place to stay that evening, but she figured leon wouldn’t know the address. it didn’t bother her, staying with him again. she closed her eyes and leaned her head on his warm and steady shoulder, drifting away into a light sleep.
when he shook her awake, she didn’t recognize the buildings around her. leon helped her out of the car, nearly piggybacking her from the weight she was leaning onto him. her heart hurt as she watched him fumble with the keys in his suit jacket for a minute.
he was helping her again, like she hadn’t turned on him for what she believed were an incorrect his change in morals. like she hadn’t hurt him by leaving him that day. she felt guilt seep into every crevice of her body like some toxic liquid, leaving no stone unturned.
“claire, stay with me,” his voice was full of concern, and she felt more than heard it as it rumbled through him.
it made her want to throw up.
his hands still held her steady as he half-carried, half-walked her to the couch, and set her down to take her shoes off. his fingers made to work on the buckles of her strappy heels, but claire stopped him when she put her hands over his. the room was silent, except for their breathing.
“i’m sorry,” she whispered.
she was scared to touch him, like he would shatter if she got too close. it was too good to be true, with him right here and helping her.
“i’m sorry,” she said again.
he began to rub soft circles into her calf, callouses from years of shooting. he was really here, she couldn’t dream of that solid touch.
she said it one more time, hands holding his face properly.
“i’m sorry.”
“i know,” he said simply.
it was like a dam broke, and she pulled his face to hers, lips meeting halfway. her desperation scared her, like he was the only thing that she needed to live. he was air to her, he was light.
the kiss was short, and they broke away. she rested her forehead on his. her head still felt fuzzy from all those glasses of champagne.
“claire, i–”
whatever it was that leon was going to say was cut short as she pushed him backwards, the slit in her dress letting her bring a leg up to his hip.
“leon,” she said huskily, loose auburn hair framing her flushed face.
but he just frowned. “claire, i can’t. you’re drunk.”
she wanted to scream at him. she knew it too, but she didn’t think she’d have enough time to see him when she was sober. not with boldness like this. maybe not ever.
“ please? ”
but leon only shook his head. “i won’t. i’m not budging on this. i’m taking your shoes off, you’re changing, and then we’re gonna get you to bed.”
she huffed as she peeled herself off of him. his fingers fiddled with her shoe before carefully setting them down by the door. she sat on the floor, legs folded under her as he slowly helped her to her feet. they entered the bedroom, and he pulled out a spare t-shirt.
it was sweetly intimate as he unzipped her dress. “beautiful,” was all he said when it slipped from her shoulders, back bare except for the occasional mole. his fingers barely traced her spine and she shuddered.
it was nice to be touched by him. it felt so good to just have him there with her.
he let her pull the shirt on alone, gown hung up somewhere else. claire clambered under the covers. her sudden drowsiness had hit her and she just wanted to rest. thank god i didn’t wear much makeup tonight, she thought with a giggle.
“what’s got you giggling?” leon asked, brow raising.
she waved her arm tiredly. “nothing. will you tuck me in?” it felt a little childish asking for him to take care of her like that, but she was too exhausted to care.
“of course.”
he sat on the edge of the bed, carefully stroking her hair. she willed away any thoughts that weren’t about leon’s comforting touch helping her drift into sleep.
only when her breaths started to come evenly did leon get up, placing a chaste kiss to her forehead.
“goodnight, claire. i’m sorry too.”