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William Birkin sighed softly, looking in the mirror at himself. He couldn’t help but grimace at the scars that covered his body, taking up about a fourth of his body and almost half of his face. He only had one eye, and his hair grew in slightly different now. He was grateful for this new chance at life—of course he was, he got to live with his daughter. But he couldn’t help but feel… empty, at times. He lost Annette, his beautiful, lovely wife. He loved her with his whole heart, despite being so focused on his work with G. Nothing could replace his dead wife, the special spot in his heart he had for her.
But that didn’t mean that he was unable to move on. To love again.
After he’d tucked Sherry into bed he couldn’t help but smile and sigh, standing over her for a moment. She was safe, his kid would live to see another day, and he now had a new chance at being a father. He’d do better this time, he had to. For Anette, for himself, but most importantly for Sherry. He was tired of being a distant father, putting Sherry through so much sorrow and loneliness. He was going to be there for her now, no matter what.
After he exited Sherry’s room he walked into the kitchen, grabbing himself a glass of water and a bag of salt and vinegar chips, slinking off to sit on the couch before getting ready to snack. After this he’d probably sleep out here, not wanting to disturb who was already occupying their shared bed. But alas, she seemed to already be awake, soon standing in front of the couch and looking down at him with a small, tired smile.
“Will, you should come to bed soon. Please?” Claire asked, earning a soft sigh from William as he looked away. It was always a fight to get him to sleep, and especially to get him to sleep in an actual bed. But he needed it. They both knew that, and he couldn’t outrun sleep like he’d previously outran death.
Claire’s gaze felt harsh upon William, and he couldn’t help but try to hide his scarred arm, feeling far too exposed for his liking. Sure, he loved Claire, but he felt so… wrong sharing space with her. Not because of his previous relationship. But because of his guilt. Here he was, now dating Claire after having previously tried ripping her limb from limb. And she’d been so kind as to help him, to take he and Sherry into her small apartment and give them a place to stay. He was more than grateful for that, but it only helped further his guilt.
A part of him wished that Annette had been the one to survive, that he had died in his mutated glory in Raccoon City. But that was just a fantasy. Here he was now, Sherry asleep in the other room, sitting on Claire’s couch in her apartment. Now all he could do was hope to live some semblance of a normal life, but the scarring all over his body didn’t help much with that. He didn’t know how Claire loved him, he was a monster. He’d nearly killed her on multiple occasions. But as Claire sat down on the couch beside him, William couldn’t help but feel oh so grateful for her love and affection.
Claire’s hand gently ran through William’s hair as she wrapped her arm around him, and William could swear that he felt like he was about to break down. He didn’t deserve this, his second chance at life. He didn’t deserve love, concern, care, or affection. He didn’t deserve her. But here he was, now clutching onto Claire, sobbing. Mumbling senseless apologies to the living, the dead, and the damned. And Claire held him, comforting him through this all, as though she were a beacon of light in William’s otherwise darkened and twisted reality.
He was impure and unclean, unworthy of her. And yet Claire held him anyways. He’d found and made a new home with her, and William couldn’t be more grateful. But weeping was tiring work, and eventually he’d passed out, his head now laying on Claire’s lap as she looked at him with a pained smile. It hurt, seeing William upset like this, and it happened frequently. But no matter what, Claire would always be by his side. Comforting him, loving him, and accepting all of his apologies.
They were all the other had, and they were both grateful for the comfort the other provided.
As William was now fast asleep in Claire’s lap, she couldn’t help but admire him. The scarring he hated so much was something she absolutely adored. It proved he was still alive, still human, capable of change and betterment. It proved that he was willing to do anything for his family and for those who he cared about. Claire found that to be absolutely endearing, something worth loving and cherishing. She loved him for him. No matter his scars, no matter his wounds, both physical and mental. She’d be there for him, as he had been there for her in their first few days after their escape from the city.
And Claire would continue to stay by his side, as William would do the same for the other. All that mattered was that they had each other. That was enough to keep them both going.
Claire herself grew drowsy, yawning and eventually falling asleep herself. Tomorrow would be a new day. Sherry would get up and get ready for school, and Claire and William would have the apartment to themselves for a while. William’s guilt wouldn’t leave in one night, in one single session of sobbing. It hadn’t before, and it wouldn’t now. They both knew that. But they also knew that no matter what happened, the other would be there for them. Arms outstretched and inviting, full of love and comfort, willing to listen to any qualms and to offer advice or to simply just be a receptacle for countless tears cried.
No matter what happened, they could always depend upon each other.