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The airport terminal buzzed with low conversations between tired passengers and the distant roar of planes taking off outside. Somewhere overhead, a speaker crackled with an announcement about lost luggage and gate closures.
If you’d asked Claire what she'd be doing after her wedding, she wouldn’t have guessed sitting in a fast-food restaurant in departures, hungover from the night before and waiting for their delayed flight to Paris.
“Didn’t take the weather into consideration, did we?” Leon said, tearing off another slice of pizza, melted cheese stretching before slipping loose and landing back on the plate with a wet smack. “Though I guess we ought to be thankful it’s just some storm and not a tyrant delaying our honeymoon.”
Claire smiled softly, reaching for a slice herself despite not feeling all that hungry.
“Small victories,” she replied with a slight shrug as she took a bite. “I’ll take it.”
Leon’s drink sprayed across the table as he popped his soda can open, fizz spilling over the rim and soaking into his slice while he stared at it in fed-up bewilderment as a third of it went to waste.
“Uh oh,” Claire chuckled, resting her chin on her hand as she took another bite of pizza. “What happened there?”
Leon looked like he was about to get defensive, his hair shifting slightly as he shook his head. Then a slow smirk spread across his face, and Claire instinctively braced herself.
“Reminds me of you last night–”
“Shut it!” Claire groaned, her hand flying up to her forehead. “My god, Leon. Don’t make me regret this already…”
Leon smirked, the kind of smugness Claire immediately wanted to wipe off his face, his leg deliberately bumping hers under the table.
“You’re stuck with me now, Redfield– I mean… Kennedy,” he said, still not quite used to the way it sounded.
Claire nudged her leg back against his, scooting a little closer in her chair. The rumble of another jet straining through the weather outside rolled overhead as she blew a loose strand of auburn hair from her face.
“You better get used to it,” Claire murmured, slowly dragging her foot up along his calf. She leaned in, her grin widening just slightly. “‘cuz you’re stuck with me, too.”
Leon exhaled sharply, his face reddening subtly but noticeably as her leg brushed against his again.
“Stuck?” he echoed, leaning in closer until their faces were only inches apart. “Never. Not with a smile that beautiful.” He reached out slowly, his thumb brushing away a drop of cheesy grease from the corner of her mouth.
Claire resisted the temptation to catch his thumb between her teeth. Not in a busy airport, exhausted from celebrations and last-minute packing.
She chuckled softly, leaning back just enough to study him properly. God, the way he was looking at her – arms resting on the flimsy plastic table, shoulders slightly hunched forward, striking blue eyes fixed on her lips like she was the only thing in the room, maybe the only thing in his whole world – he looked…
“You look so in love,” she said quietly. “Makes me feel the same.”
“Good.” Leon smirked as he picked up another slice of pizza, only for the toppings to slide right off again. Claire could already feel the joke coming before he even opened his mouth. “Because you stole a pizza my heart.”