Chapter Text
Chris Redfield couldn't be more proud of Rosemary Winters. The teenager was making great progress, growing physically stronger and faster. In a few more years, she'd definitely be on par with her other teacher, Chris's partner, Albert Redfield. The former bio-terrorist had been showing her how to use her powers based on his experiences with his own power as well as training her in martial arts whilst Chris taught her stealth and showed her how to use firearms other than shotguns and pistols (firearms such as grenade launchers, sniper rifles, machine guns and magnums.)
Not only did Chris feel proud at the fact that Rose would be able to look after herself if something malicious were to come her way one day, he felt relieved too. As much as he wanted to, he knew that he wouldn't be able to protect Rose all his life. Neither could his partner. Old age would eventually take them away. Or maybe... something else would take their lives? As the B.O.Ws that Chris, Albert and the Hound Wolf Squad had fought recently were becoming larger and outrageously more powerful with immunities to nearly everything now and it wasn't just the B.O.Ws they had to watch out for. There was betrayal around nearly every corner. It was no wonder why Chris had developed great trust issues.
Needless to say, staying safe was becoming a harder task. To survive in the world, one needed strength and wit. That's why Albert had assisted Chris in training Rose. The training lessons that took place were tiring for sure and Albert's lessons were the hardest as he wouldn't let the day's lesson end until he saw a performance that met his standards.
As harsh as it sounded, he wanted to make sure Rose could utilize her powers to perfection. Because one mistake out there in a world without her guardians could mean death. So the better she became, the more at ease Chris and Albert felt for the future she would have without them.
Albert wouldn't really outright admit it, but he, like Chris, had grown attached to the girl. In a way, he saw himself in the kid with powers she didn't ask for. Powers that had reduced her to nothing more than something to either be studied or avoided. Albert knew how that felt thanks to a certain project from his childhood.
But unlike how his life turned out, both he and Chris would make sure Rose had a comfortable and happy life despite everything.
~
"That's enough for today, Rose."
"Thank god for that."
Another training session in the backyard of Chris's home came to an end. Rose sat herself down on the grass, panting slightly from the mock fight she'd just had with Albert. Closing her eyes, she let the warm evening breeze ruffle her hair as she tried her best to calm her racing heart and control her breathing.
"You did a fine job. I'm proud."
Squinting up at the man, she mustered whatever strength she had left and smiled tiredly. "T-thanks."
From a distance, Chris watched the interaction and found himself chuckling on the inside. 'Reminds me of when Al and I would train together.' Chris had been like Rose in those training sessions. He'd been all ears and eager to please. Even when he was tired, utterly exhausted, he pushed on as he wanted to be as strong and as smart as his captain.
And it was a good thing he did, too. If he hadn't trained as hard as he did, if he hadn't picked up various tips or learned certain maneuvers from Albert, he wouldn't be alive to this day. There was a certain irony to all that, as Albert had at some point in the past, wanted Chris dead. Albert would have gotten that wish, but what he had taught Chris in the past kept his enemy (at the time) alive.
Chris's blue eyes focused hard on the blond clad in black as Albert folded his arms and addressed Rose again. Chris had an idea of what was coming. 'He's going to criticize her performance. I just know it. He always did it with me.'
"Rose, as proud of you as I am, remember in future to keep your wits about you. I almost landed a hit on you back there when you failed to perform that dodge correctly."
'I knew it!' Chris smiled as he watched the scene unfold before him. A scene that made him feel nostalgic for 1998.
A sigh escaped the teen as she flopped back onto the grass. "Yes, Albert. I'll improve." She groaned.
"And another thing, your kicks need a little work-"
Another groan, "gotcha."
"Also your punches-"
Covering her face with her hands, she muttered, "no more. I'm done for the day..."
Her response displeased him. "Do you wish to learn how to defend yourself?"
"Yeah. But like, can we do this whole lecturing tomorrow? I'm exhausted." Her arms fell to her sides, and she closed her eyes again, letting herself relax.
"But-"
Chris intervened, knowing that if he didn't, his partner would continue picking away at her. Making his way over to the blond, Chris raised his hand for silence. "Al, let her rest. As you said yourself, she's done a fine job."
Albert tried to protest, his mouth silently moved as he tried to form words. But in the end, he simply gave in and agreed with Chris. "As you wish."
From where she lay, Rose put her fist in the air and exclaimed a triumphant, "thank you, Chris!" Then let her arm fall down to her side again as she resumed her relaxation in the grass.
Albert huffed, retorting to her remark with a cocky, "we'll be training twice as hard tomorrow, young miss. So laugh whilst you can, as you won't have the energy to laugh when tomorrow's lesson is done."
Though deep down, both Chris and Rose knew that Albert's threat was hollow. He had threatened her with 'training twice as hard' before, but there was no change to the lesson at all. Albert, without a doubt, cared for the girl too much to put her through extremely punishing training programs like he had gone through as a child. Programs which made him either terribly sick or straight up pass out.
"Come on," Chris began as he offered his hand to Rose, "let's go inside and get something to eat."
Rose took his hand that dwarfed her own hand, and let herself be pulled up onto her feet. "Can we all have pizza and chips?" She enquired, giving Chris the 'puppy eyes', which she knew would win him over as always.
Before Chris could reply with a defeated 'sure', Albert interjected with a horrified, "that garbage is not good for your body. It can lead to many health complications-"
"Oh, I'll be fine, Albert! Anyways, this is the third time this month I'm going to have pizza and chips!" The teen fought back. "Look, I'm eating it in consideration like you said I could." She gave Albert the puppy eyes. But they didn't work on him. Albert simply continued his lecture.
"Even still, I hope you're aware of how bad it is. Pizza and chips are full of-"
Chris saw a mischievous glint in Rose's eyes and knew she was going to end this debate once and for all. 'This is gonna be good,' He mused to himself, getting ready to hold back his laughter.
Rose beamed and exclaimed a cheerful, "lighten up, whiskers! I think we all deserve a treat!"
The look on Albert's face was absolutely priceless. His expression went from wide-eyed shock to a frown. "What have I told you about calling me that? It's immature and annoying. You're sixteen, not six," He chided.
Glancing over at Chris, who was trying ever so hard not to laugh, Albert grumbled, "I can see you smirking, Chris... And I know you're the one who taught her that nickname. You used to call me it back in our S.T.A.R.S days. Whilst you never said it to my face, I overheard you saying it to Jill and Barry on multiple occasions."
That just sent Chris over the edge and he guffawed, which in turn had Rose laughing too. Chris had indeed taught the Rose the nickname. Though it was purely accidental. He just blurted it out around her and she thought it was hilarious, wanting to use it against her teacher just to see how he'd react.
Albert huffed, moving to place his hands on his hips as the two continued laughing, "if you want something to laugh at, I'll give you something to laugh at." He addressed Rose as he drawled out, "do you know what they nicknamed Chris back at S.T.A.R.S?"
Chris soon stopped laughing, and he butted in before Albert could say anything. "Rose, don't listen to him."
"What did they call him?" She stared at the blond curiously, awaiting the scandalous nickname.
A smile grew on Albert's lips. He felt powerful. "They called him-"
"Don't say another word." Warned Chris in a low tone. But to no avail. Albert continued onwards as if his partner hadn't said anything. "They called him-"
"Al, stop!-" in an attempt to stop him, Chris tried to put his hand over Albert's mouth but the former mastermind grabbed his wrist with ease, completely unfazed as he dropped the nickname that Chris would never live down. "They called him 'puppy.'"
More laughter erupted from the teen. "Puppy!?" Her eyes locked onto Chris's eyes that were filled with horror. "Chris the puppy! Hahaha!!"
Unfortunately for Chris, Albert wasn't done. He was clearly enjoying this revenge for bringing the 'Whiskers' nickname back from the dead. "Do you want to know why they called him puppy, Rose?"
"Yes!" Rose laughed. "Why did they call him that?"
Chris pulled his wrist away from his partner, grumbling, "Al, you've done enough damage."
Clearly, Albert didn't think he had. "They called him puppy because of how excitable and lively he was. Especially around me. As soon as Chris saw me enter the office, he was all smiles and no matter what he was doing, he came bounding straight over to me and saluted. Also, whenever I left the room, he'd quieten down and wait for me to come back into the room. When I did return I was met with smiles and enthusiastic cries of 'hello, Captain' or 'how are you, Captain?' Everyone in S.T.A.R. S compared this excitable, wanting to please behaviour brought on by me to that of a puppy with its beloved owner." He finished the sentence with a cocky smile.
"Aww, Chris, that's so cute!" Rose beamed teasingly at the aforementioned man who at this point, had given up on trying to stop Albert and simply accepted what was going on, half out of the fact that he knew he couldn't stop Albert and half out of the fact that his mind was drifting off and remembering those silly simple days with the team where nothing much happened.
Truly, they were wonderful days.
"Right, I think that's enough reminiscing. Let's have some tea. You wanted pizza and chips, right, Rose?" Chris said, changing the subject.
A nod. "Yep."
Albert scoffed. "I'm not having any of that filth. You two can. But I'm having proper food. Food that my perfect body will benefit from."
Chris shrugged and headed off to the backdoor of the house with Rose. "Alright. But you're missing out, Al."
"I don't care." He stormed past him, entering the home without another word.
Chris followed after with Rose muttering a low, "Jeesh, would it kill him to lighten up?" Under her breath.
~
After tea, Rose headed upstairs to play on the game's console in her room, leaving Chris to clean up the dirty dishes whilst Albert sat at the round oak kitchen table, preparing to give himself another dose of his stabilizing serum, PG67A/W.
"You've done good with Rose, Al." Mused Chris as he dried another plate.
"So you've mentioned." Albert dryly replied as he dabbed at his forearm with some cotton, before tossing the cotton aside. Poising his hand, he readied the needle above his skin.
"I mean it. You're a good teacher." Chris idly chatted on above the sploshing water and the clinking of plates in the sink.
"I'm quite aware of this fact." With an irritated sigh, Albert stared at him for a split second, then turned his attention back to his arm. Ever so carefully, he pushed the needle in and pressed down on the injector. When all of the serum had entered his body, he removed the needle and headed off out of the room to dispose of it.
Chris finished up with the dishes and dried his hands. His mind wandered off to mundane things as he set about making himself a coffee. However, whatever thoughts he had were cut off as he heard Albert renter the kitchen behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, Chris asked, "would you like a coffee?"
"Indeed I would," came his hummed response.
"With some biscuits?"
"Yes. Make sure they're the plain ones. I'm not fond of those chocolate ones Rose has."
"Alright."
The kettle was switched on, two mugs were filled with coffee and sugar, and a singular plate of plain biscuits was laid out on the kitchen table.
Resitting himself down at the table, Albert plucked a single biscuit from the plate and took a bite.
Chris watched him, finding himself grinning at how content he looked. His attention soon shifted to the glint of silver and white on Albert's right ring finger. It stirred a warm feeling within Chris's heart as their wedding came to mind.
"Al?"
"Hmm?" He looked over, halfway through a bite.
"Your ring still shines like the day I bought it. It hasn't dulled with time, like I have." He chuckled at the last part that was jokingly said.
Albert replied in all seriousness, "You haven't dulled, dear heart. You're still as bright and beautiful as the day I first laid eyes upon you."
Approaching the other, Chris took Albert's hand and brought it up to his mouth, pressing a tender kiss to the ring. "I can say the same thing about you, my love."
Albert gently pulled Chris's hand to his own mouth and, in turn, kissed Chris's ring, earning a smile from his husband.
The two had been married for nine long years and their wedding was unlike any other wedding, to say the least.
And it went like this...