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Chris and Claire rarely got the chance to simply go for a walk. No rushing, no particular destination, no phone reminding them every few minutes about the next thing they had to do. That afternoon, however, they had both agreed that they needed an ordinary day. No serious conversations, no plans, no errands to run. Just a park, good weather, and a few hours spent together.
Claire walked beside her brother with her hands tucked into the pockets of her jacket, occasionally glancing around at the paths. Spring sunlight filtered through the freshly opened leaves of the trees, and everything was surprisingly peaceful. A few children were running around on the grass, an older couple sat on a bench near the pond, and on the other side of the path, someone was walking a dog that had apparently decided every bush was a potentially fascinating source of information.
Chris walked beside her with his usual calm demeanor. His arms were folded across his chest, and his gaze moved over their surroundings more out of habit than any actual need to keep an eye on the situation. Claire knew that look. She knew that even during an ordinary walk, Chris automatically paid attention to everything around him.
“Stop looking around like a security guard.” she said eventually.
Chris looked at her.
“I’m not looking around.”
Claire raised an eyebrow.
“Chris.”
“What?”
“You just checked who was sitting behind us.”
“Because someone was walking behind us.”
“It’s a park. People walk here.”
“I know.”
“So?”
Chris shrugged.
“Habit.”
Claire shook her head, amused.
“You’re impossible.”
“You’ve said that before.”
“Because it’s still true.”
The faintest smile appeared on Chris’s lips. Claire noticed it immediately, even though her brother tried to hide it.
“Oh, there it is.”
“What?”
“You smiled.”
“No.”
“I saw it.”
“You imagined it.”
“Chris, I’ve known you since I was born.”
“That doesn’t mean you’ve seen everything.”
“When it comes to your face? Unfortunately, I have.”
Chris let out a quiet snort and shook his head.
They kept walking. For a while, neither of them said anything. It wasn’t an awkward silence, though. When you were siblings who had known each other their entire lives, silence could be just as natural as conversation. Claire didn’t need to constantly fill the space with words. It was enough that Chris was beside her.
After a few minutes, they turned onto a quieter side path, surrounded by wide stretches of grass. Spring had clearly done its work here. The grass was a vivid green, and clusters of flowers grew among it. Some were still small and unassuming, while others were already in full bloom, creating colorful patches along the path.
Claire slowed down. Chris took two more steps before noticing that his sister had stopped. He turned around.
“What’s up?”
Claire didn’t answer right away. She was looking at the flowers.
“They’re pretty.”
Chris looked where she was staring.
“The flowers?”
“No, Chris. The trees.”
“Ah.”
Claire gave him a brief look.
“You don’t have to be sarcastic.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“A little.”
Claire smiled to herself and stepped a few feet off the path, stopping beside a small cluster of flowers. They were tiny, pale, and smelled delicate. She didn’t know what they were called, but she liked them.
Chris stayed on the path.
“Don’t pick them.”
Claire looked at him, offended.
“I’m not five years old.”
“I just wanted to make sure.”
“You seriously think I’d pick someone’s flowers?”
“I remember when you were eight.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“You said you wouldn’t pick them then either.”
Claire crossed her arms.
“I was eight.”
“And thirty seconds later, you brought Mom a bouquet from half the garden.”
“Mom was delighted.”
“Dad wasn’t.”
“Dad wasn’t delighted by anything that destroyed his garden.”
Chris smiled slightly.
“That’s true.”
Claire turned back toward the flowers. For a moment, she simply looked at them. Then she leaned down, bringing her face closer to one of the clusters.
Chris watched her for a few seconds.
And then something changed in his expression.
Claire didn’t notice. She was too busy with the flowers.
Chris knew this moment. An opportunity like this didn’t come around often. Far too rarely, actually.
His sister was observant. She was stubborn, quick, and capable of predicting most of his jokes before he even got the chance to make them.
But right now, she had her back to him. Bent over. Completely focused on the flowers.
Chris glanced at the empty path, then at Claire, then back at the flowers. The same faint smile from earlier appeared on his face. Claire had just closed her eyes to get a better smell. And then Chris took a step.
“Mmm…” Claire murmured.
A second step.
“They really do smell nice.”
A third.
Chris reached out his hands.
“Chris?”
Too late. With one quick but controlled movement, he gave her a gentle shove toward the flowers.
“CHR—!”
Claire lost her balance and landed on her knees in the soft grass, right in the middle of the flowers. A few stems bent underneath her, and her hair fell around her face. For two seconds, there was absolute silence.
Chris stood behind her. Claire slowly lifted her head.
“…You.”
Chris pressed his lips together.
“Yes?”
“You just pushed me into the flowers.”
“Technically speaking, I just helped you get closer.”
Silence.
“Chris.”
“Claire.”
“You pushed me into the flowers.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Chris shrugged.
“You looked like you wanted a closer look.”
Claire stared at him in disbelief.
“I’m thirty years old.”
“I know.”
“I’m an adult.”
“I know.”
“And you just behaved like a twelve-year-old idiot.”
“I know that too.”
Claire tried to keep a straight face, but the corner of her mouth twitched. Chris noticed immediately.
“Don’t laugh.”
“I’m not laughing.”
“You are.”
“No.”
“I can see it.”
“This is your fault.”
“How?”
Claire got to her feet and brushed off her pants.
“Because I just discovered that you’re still the same stupid older brother who used to hide my shoes.”
“That was one time.”
“Seven.”
“There weren’t seven.”
“There were.”
“Four.”
“Six.”
“Five.”
Claire narrowed her eyes.
“You’re admitting to five?”
Chris realized he had just made a mistake.
“That’s not the point.”
Claire burst out laughing.
“Of course that’s the point!”
Chris shook his head, but he started laughing too. Claire brushed off her clothes, pulling a tiny flower petal out of her hair.
“I hope you’re proud of yourself.”
“A little.”
“You should be ashamed.”
“Also a little.”
Claire looked at him, then suddenly narrowed her eyes.
Chris immediately stopped smiling.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Claire.”
“Nothing.”
“I know that look.”
“What look?”
“The one that means you’re about to do something.”
Claire smiled innocently.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Claire.”
“Chris.”
For a moment, they stared at each other in silence.
Chris was the first to give in.
“No.”
“But I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Claire took a step toward him. Chris stepped back.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“About what?”
“You know exactly what.”
Claire took another step. Chris backed away again.
“Claire.”
“What?”
“Don’t do it.”
“Do what?”
“That.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You’re terrible.”
“And you just pushed me into the flowers.”
“And I apologized.”
“You did not.”
“I was going to.”
“When?”
“In a minute.”
“Too late.”
Claire lunged forward.
Chris jumped back, but he laughed so genuinely that several people farther down the path turned their heads. Claire tried to grab him by the sleeve, but Chris was faster. He dodged her and moved a few steps farther away.
“You’re running away?!”
“Yes.”
“Chris Redfield!”
“Don’t use my full name!”
“I absolutely will!”
Claire ran after him.
Chris glanced over his shoulder.
“You’re not gonna catch me.”
“We’re in a park, not in a race.”
“Then why are you running?”
“Because I want to kill you!”
“That sounds like an argument against me!”
Claire started laughing despite trying to maintain an offended expression. Chris couldn’t stop smiling either. After a moment, Claire stopped, resting her hands on her knees.
“Okay… I’m done.”
Chris stopped several feet away.
“You give up?”
“No.”
“Sounds like giving up.”
“I just… don’t feel like running after you.”
“Sure.”
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you won.”
“Because I did.”
Claire straightened up.
“You know you’re unbearable?”
“Been told that for years.”
“And you’re actually proud of it.”
“A little.”
Claire shook her head.
“I genuinely don’t know how I tolerate you.”
Chris walked closer.
“Because you love me.”
Claire looked at him. For a moment, the playful expression disappeared from her face.
“Unfortunately.”
Chris smiled warmly.
“I love you too.”
Claire rolled her eyes.
“Don’t think that’s going to save you.”
“I know.”
“You’re still an idiot.”
“I know.”
“And if you ever push me into the flowers again, I swear…”
“I won’t.”
Claire eyed him suspiciously.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Good.”
Chris turned around and started walking again.
Claire followed him for a few steps, then glanced back at the flowers.
“You know what?”
Chris stopped.
“What?”
“They really did smell nice.”
“I believe you.”
Claire smiled and returned to the path. They continued walking side by side, just like before. After a few minutes, Chris glanced at his sister.
“You’ve got something in your hair.”
Claire sighed.
“I know. A flower.”
“No.”
“Grass?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Chris reached out and pulled a tiny petal from her hair.
“Nothing now.”
Claire looked at him for a moment.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
They kept walking.
Claire was quiet for a few seconds before suddenly saying,
“I still hate you.”
“Sure.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know.”
“And remember, revenge is coming.”
Chris looked at her, amused.
“I’ll be waiting.”
“You should be scared.”
“I’m terrified.”
Claire grinned.
“Good.”
Chris shook his head. And that was what their quiet family walk looked like. No big events, no drama, nothing that required either of them to be a hero. Just a brother, a sister, a little sunshine, a few flowers, and an old rivalry that would apparently survive for many more years to come.