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Claire Redfield knew from the very first minute that moving into their new apartment was going to look nothing like she’d imagined. She’d had a plan. She wanted to unpack boxes, decide where the coffee machine would go, argue with Leon over the perfect spot for the couch, and laugh at Chris, who would undoubtedly complain about the stairs. It had been a really good plan. Unfortunately, it was brutally destroyed by the two most stubborn men she knew.
“No.”
Claire raised an eyebrow.
“Leon…”
“No.”
“I haven’t even said anything yet…”
“I know what you were going to say.”
“No, you don’t.”
“You were about to get up.”
“Because I wanted to.”
“And that’s exactly why the answer is no.”
She sat on their brand-new couch, which still smelled like it had just come from the furniture store, a pillow supporting her back and a mug of tea Leon had placed in her hands barely thirty seconds earlier.
She glanced toward the front door, where Chris was carrying in yet another box.
“Chris.”
“No.”
She let out a dramatic sigh.
“Did you two actually coordinate this?”
Chris set the box down on the floor and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his T-shirt.
“Yep.”
“You’re not even trying to hide it?”
“Nope.”
“You two are impossible.”
“We love you.”
“That’s not an argument.”
“It is to me.” Chris replied with disarming calm.
A moment later, Leon came back carrying two more boxes.
“Everything okay?”
Claire stared at him in disbelief.
“Leon.”
“What?”
“I’m sitting.”
“I know.”
“I’ve been sitting for twenty minutes.”
“I know.”
“I’m fine.”
“Good.”
“Then why are you asking?”
“Because I want to make sure.”
Chris snorted. Leon shot him a questioning look.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Chris.”
“It’s just funny watching you.”
“Why?”
“You check on her every three minutes.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Two and a half.”
Claire hid a smile behind her mug. Leon sighed.
“She’s pregnant.”
“I know. She’s my sister.”
“She’s six months along.”
“I still know.”
“She overworked herself recently.”
Chris gave Claire a meaningful look.
“Yeah. I know.”
Claire rolled her eyes. That was exactly the problem. One stupid afternoon. Just one. Chris had gone out to the store for a while, Leon had to run an errand, and she’d decided that since the apartment renovation was almost finished, she could help a little. She moved a few boxes, started cleaning the cabinets, then climbed onto a chair to wipe down the upper shelves…
By that evening, her back hurt so badly that Leon had practically dragged her to the doctor.
Thankfully, nothing had been wrong. But ever since then, the two of them had been treating her like she was made of porcelain.
“Seriously.” she said. “I’m not planning to climb on top of cabinets.”
“Good.”
“Or carry the refrigerator.”
“Great.”
“Or move the couch.”
“Excellent plan.”
“But can I at least unpack one box?”
“No.”
“Leon…”
“No.”
“Chris?”
“Absolutely not.”
Claire looked up at the ceiling.
“I’m starting to understand why people move out of their parents’ house.”
Chris smirked.
“In a few months, you’ll be telling your kid ‘no’ too.”
“But not every three seconds.”
Leon happened to walk past.
“Everything okay?”
Chris finally lost it. He burst into laughter so hard he had to brace himself against the wall. Leon frowned.
“What now?”
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
“Chris.”
“I’m counting.”
“Counting what?”
“How many times you’ve asked her if she’s okay.”
Claire looked over with curiosity.
“And?”
“Fourteen.”
Leon blinked.
“No way.”
“Fourteen times in forty minutes.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
“I have notes.”
“You’ve been taking notes?”
Chris pulled out his phone.
“With timestamps.”
Claire burst out laughing. Leon looked genuinely offended.
“That’s not funny.”
“It kind of is.” Chris replied.
“I’m worried.”
“I know.”
“And?”
Chris set another box down.
“Nothing. It’s just the first time I’ve ever seen someone this overprotective.”
Claire raised an eyebrow.
“You’re really saying that?”
Chris fell silent. Leon looked at him slowly.
“Fair point.”
“Don’t start.”
“You wouldn’t even let her carry groceries for two months.”
“She was in her first trimester.”
“And now?”
“She’s six months pregnant.”
“So… still.”
“Exactly.”
Leon looked back and forth between the siblings.
“You know…”
“Don’t even finish that sentence.” Claire muttered.
“…I think I’m starting to understand Chris.”
“Oh, no.”
Chris patted Leon on the shoulder.
“Welcome to the big brothers’ club.”
Over the next half hour, the apartment slowly began to feel like a home. Boxes disappeared. Shelves filled up. The kitchen gained mugs, plates, and spices. A bookshelf found its place in the living room.
Claire watched it all from the couch, feeling both touched and frustrated. She wanted to help. She really did. But every single time she so much as leaned forward to grab the phone from the coffee table, Leon was already beside her.
“What do you need?”
“My phone.”
“Here.”
He handed it to her. Five minutes later…
“Want some water?”
“I still have some.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
Ten minutes later…
“Does your back hurt?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Leon.”
“What?”
“Breathe.”
Chris was carrying in a lamp when he glanced at Leon.
“You know…”
“No.”
“I haven’t even said anything.”
“But you’re about to.”
“Yeah.”
Leon sighed.
“Go ahead.”
“I think once the baby’s born, you’ll be checking whether they’re breathing every five minutes.”
“Five?”
“Two.”
Leon was quiet for a moment.
“…Probably.”
Chris nodded.
“I appreciate the honesty.”
Claire smiled warmly. That was Leon. After everything he’d gone through in Raccoon City, after losing so many people, after years of working for the government… When he loved someone, he loved with everything he had. Sometimes, that came out in… very intense ways.
“Leon.”
He turned immediately.
“Yeah?”
“Come here.”
Without a word, he walked over and sat beside her.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
Claire gently took his hand.
“Sit with me for a minute.”
“But the boxes…”
“They can wait.”
He looked uncertainly at Chris.
“Go ahead.” Redfield said. “I’ll finish this.”
Leon hesitated.
“By yourself?”
“Did you seriously forget I’ve been hauling heavier equipment than a few cardboard boxes for years?”
“…No.”
“Then sit.”
Leon settled back down. Claire rested her head against his shoulder. For a moment, a comfortable silence filled the apartment.
“Thank you.”
He looked at her in surprise.
“For what?”
“For all of this.”
“Claire…”
“I know you’re both overdoing it.”
Chris snorted.
“A little.”
“A lot.”
“Okay. A lot.”
“But I know why.”
Leon gently squeezed her hand.
“I’m just worried.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I know.”
“Or…”
“I know.”
She smiled.
“And it’s sweet.”
“Even if it’s a little annoying?”
“A little very annoying.”
Chris laughed from the kitchen. Leon buried his face in one hand.
“I’m sorry.”
Claire gently cupped his cheek.
“Don’t apologize.”
“But…”
“Just remember I’m still Claire Redfield.”
“I know.”
“I can still take care of myself.”
“I know.”
“I’m not going to fall apart from walking across the room.”
Leon hesitated.
“I know that… in theory.”
“Leon.”
“Okay. I’ll try.”
Chris leaned around the corner.
“He won’t.”
“Chris…”
“What? I saw the way you looked at her when she got up to make tea at my place. You looked like she was about to defuse a bomb.”
Leon stayed silent. Claire looked at him.
“Seriously?”
“…Maybe a little.”
“A little?”
“Okay. A lot.”
“Knew it.” Chris muttered triumphantly.
By the time the last box disappeared from the hallway, the sun was beginning to set. The apartment still wasn’t completely finished. A few boxes remained on the floor. The curtains still needed to be hung. In one room, the baby’s furniture was still waiting to be assembled. But it was theirs.
Truly theirs.
Leon looked around the living room.
“We did it.”
Chris stretched his tired arms.
“Thank God.”
Claire carefully stood up from the couch. Both men turned toward her at the exact same time.
“Claire…”
“Relax.”
She slowly walked over to the large window. Beyond it stretched the quiet afternoon city.
Leon joined her, immediately wrapping an arm carefully around her waist, as though he was afraid he might hurt her if he held her too tightly. She rested her head against his shoulder.
“I like it.”
“So do I.”
“You know…”
“Hm?”
“This is the first home that really feels like ours.”
Leon didn’t answer right away. Then he gently kissed her forehead.
“It feels that way to me, too.”
Chris looked away with a faint smile.
“Alright.”
They both looked at him.
“I should probably get going before this gets any more romantic.”
Claire laughed.
“Thanks for helping.”
“Always.”
He walked over and carefully hugged his sister.
“Take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
Then he looked at Leon.
“And you…”
“I know.”
“Don’t wear her out by asking if she’s okay every five minutes.”
Leon opened his mouth. Closed it again. Then sighed.
“I’ll try.”
Chris nodded, amused.
“I won’t believe it until five whole minutes pass without you asking.”
The door closed behind him. Silence settled over the apartment.
Claire looked at Leon.
“Well?”
“What?”
“Want to ask me something?”
Leon stayed quiet for several seconds. He was genuinely fighting himself. Finally, he sighed.
“Everything okay?”
Claire laughed so hard she had to lean her forehead against his shoulder. Leon groaned quietly.
“I tried.”
“I know.”
“I really did.”
“I know.”
She wrapped her arms around him more tightly.
“And that’s exactly why I love you.”
Leon smiled helplessly.
“Even if I’m a little overprotective?”
“Especially then.”
She gently placed his hand on her stomach. A moment later, they felt a tiny kick. Both of them froze.
Leon looked at her with wide eyes.
“That was…”
Claire nodded.
“I think someone likes the new apartment.”
For the first time in many years, Leon Kennedy truly felt like he was home.