Work Text:
The gala was filled with people from various professions, all gathered beneath the glittering chandeliers of the grand hall. Agents from several organisations had come together to speak about various topics.
In the middle of it all stood Claire Redfield, looking as though she was seconds away from committing a crime.
She wore a beautiful blue satin dress that fell elegantly to her ankles, revealing glimpses of her silver heels whenever she moved. Her hair was styled in a half ponytail, leaving a few strands to frame her face. Her hands were clenched into fists, and the expression on her face was enough to make anyone think twice about approaching her.
Michael Thomas. A senior agent from DSO.
Michael was someone Leon had mentioned on numerous occasions. Difficult, inconsiderate, and convinced that the world should be governed by fear rather than resilience.
In Leon’s words. Asshole.
Claire had been minding her own business, enjoying the evening as best she could, until Michael approached her. At first, he’d seemed interested in getting to know her, but when Claire firmly shut down his advances, he shifted the conversation towards her work.
That was when things went downhill.
Apparently, Michael had decided that Claire needed to hear his unsolicited opinions about TerraSave and the value of its work.
“I just think funding TerraSave is a waste of time,” Michael remarked. “Let’s be honest. What do you people actually do that makes a difference?”
Claire stared at him, her expression hardening.
“Fixing the world is a waste of time?” Her voice grew sharper. “Building schools, providing shelter, and helping people rebuild their lives after they’ve lost everything isn’t important? Are you even hearing yourself?”
She stood her ground, refusing to let his condescending attitude intimidate her. Michael let out an amused chuckle, seemingly entertained by her frustration.
“Listen, sweetheart, I know all this is great for brownie points, but that doesn’t mean you people deserve endless fund—”
“Shut up!”
Claire’s voice cut through the surrounding chatter, bringing the conversation around them to an abrupt halt. Several guests turned towards them, their attention drawn to the growing confrontation.
“This world is already fucked up enough as it is, and governments spend billions dealing with the consequences of problems they should be preventing in the first place!” she snapped. “People are suffering. Families are being torn apart. Entire communities are left with nothing, and we’re out there trying to give them a chance to put their lives back together. And you have the nerve to stand here and call that a waste of money? To suggest we’re doing it for brownie points?”
Michael raised his eyebrows, his expression irritatingly unimpressed.“And what would you know about government funding?” he asked, a distasteful smile spreading across his face. “No one takes you people seriously. Especially you.”
Across the room, Leon had been watching the exchange from his seat almost from the beginning, having noticed Michael approach Claire and attempt to charm her. He could have intervened then, but he’d decided against it.
Claire didn’t need him to rescue her from an unwanted conversation.
So he’d stayed where he was, keeping an eye on her while quietly following the conversation from a distance. He actually been enjoying watching Claire dismantle Michael’s argument.
There was something about the way she stood up for people who couldn’t defend themselves, about the conviction in her voice whenever she spoke about TerraSave’s work, that never failed to get to him. Claire had a heart that refused to turn away from suffering, no matter how ugly the world became.
She cared when other people didn’t and Leon was endlessly proud of her for it.
Unfortunately, Michael was beginning to take things too far. His condescending tone had turned personal, and the unnecessary pet names weren’t helping matters. Leon could see how much they were getting under Claire’s skin.
Judging by the look on her face and the way her hands had curled into fists, she was only a few minutes away from breaking every bone in the man’s body.
Leon sighed, set his drink aside, and stood.
It was time to intervene.
He crossed the hall just as Claire drew breath to deliver what was sure to be another verbal assault. Before she could speak, Leon stepped between them, gently placing his hands on her arms and positioning himself between Claire and Michael.
“Come on, Claire. That’s enough.” Claire looked at him, looking torn between frustration and disbelief.
“No, Leon. Move!” She tried to step around him, but Leon shifted with her, keeping himself in her way.
“Claire.”
“Leon, I’m serious!”
“So am I.” His voice remained calm. “It’s not worth it. We’re leaving.”
Claire glanced past his shoulder and caught sight of Michael’s smug expression. Her anger flared all over again and she made another attempt to get around Leon.
He leaned closer, giving her a look she knew all too well. For a moment, Claire considered ignoring him entirely. But then she lets out a frustrated sigh and reluctantly gave in.
“Fine.”
Leon slipped an arm around her shoulders and guided her towards the exit, leaving Michael behind with his infuriating smirk.
Claire remained silent as they walked away, her anger simmering beneath the surface. She couldn’t believe the audacity of the man, the way he’d spoken about her work as though the lives TerraSave helped were nothing more than an inconvenience.
The moment they were far enough from the ballroom entrance, she slipped out from under Leon’s arm and marched ahead of him.
Leon followed with his hands tucked into his pockets, already knowing this wasn’t going to be an easy conversation.
“Babe.”
“Don’t babe me!”
Claire spun around so abruptly that Leon nearly walked straight into her.
“That fucking asshole has absolutely no idea what he’s talking about!”
Leon stopped in his tracks. This time, he wisely kept his mouth shut.
“How dare he?” Claire continued, pointing at the building if she was pointing at the man. “We work so hard to make sure people who’ve already been through hell have somewhere to turn. We try to give them a chance to rebuild their lives, and people like him act as though none of it matters! If we aren’t worth listening too!”
Her voice gradually faded as the frustration gave way to exhaustion. She let out a heavy sigh, rubbing her hand across her face.
Leon watched her for a moment before stepping closer.
“I’m listening.”
Claire looked up at him.
“I know it’s frustrating, Claire. And I’m not going to stand here and tell you that you shouldn’t be angry, because that guy was an absolute jackass.” The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“But idiots like him don’t understand what you do. They’re so caught up in power, status, and hierarchy that they’ve forgotten what any of it is supposed to be for.”
Claire’s expression softened, though the irritation hadn’t entirely left her eyes. “I should have punched him when I had the chance.” she muttered.
Leon glanced down at her hands before taking them in his own. He bent his head and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, then looked up at her with a familiar, lopsided smile.
“Dirty those pretty hands of yours? I don’t think so.”
A reluctant smile tugged at Claire’s lips.
“I wanted to punch you too for interfering.”
Leon raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smirk spreading across his face. “Well, you can gladly use these hands on me.”
Claire stared at him for a second before letting out a disbelieving laugh. Leon grinned at the sound of her laughter. He loved that laugh, especially when he could coax it out of her.
But as quickly as the smile had appeared, it began to fade.
Claire lowered her gaze to their joined hands and sighed. “I just hate how they look at me like I’m some clueless idiot who has no idea what she’s talking about.”
Leon frowned slightly. “It’s because you were right, baby. He just got insecure.”
Claire looked at him.
“Everything you said about the schools, the hospitals, opening shelters, raising funds to help communities recover, challenging the government’s spending…” He gave her hands a gentle squeeze. “You made some pretty damn good points.”
“You were listening to me?”
Claire stared at him, warmth blooming in her chest. Leon looked almost offended by the question.
“Of course I was. I’d never miss the chance to watch my girlfriend tear an idiot apart.” He grins proudly.
She shook her head, smiling softly, and squeezed his hands in return. Leon had always had a way of making her feel heard, even when everyone else seemed determined to dismiss her.
He leaned in and kissed her cheek before whispering, “Besides, you were the only interesting person at the event.”
A small laugh escaped Claire, but her smile soon turned wistful. “I just wish other people would listen to me too.”
“I wish they would too.”
Leon pulled her into his arms, holding her close as Claire wrapped her own around his waist and rested her forehead against his shoulder. For a little while, neither of them spoke.
She simply let herself breathe, taking comfort in the familiar warmth of his embrace. Leon held her without question, one hand resting against her back as he gently stroked her hair.
He couldn’t make the world listen to her. He couldn’t change the minds of people like Michael or force them to understand why her work mattered. But he chose to remind her that she wasn’t alone.
“Take me home, please,” Claire murmured against his shoulder. Leon pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Anything for you.”
He kept an arm around her as they made their way to the car, guiding her towards the passenger side before opening the door for her. Claire slipped into the seat, gathering her dress neatly around her legs, only to freeze a moment later.
“Shit. I left my purse inside.”
“Don’t worry, babe. I’ll get it.”
Leon leaned into the car to make sure she was settled comfortably before reaching across to fasten her seat belt.
“I can do that myself—”
“Let me look after my girlfriend.”
He delivered the words in his usual mock-offended tone, the one he adopted whenever he felt his rights as her boyfriend were being threatened.
For the first time that evening, Claire laughed without a trace of bitterness. She watched as Leon fastened her seat belt, then double checked that no part of her dress was caught in the door before turning to her with a smile.
Raccoon City might have left her with lifelong trauma and nightmares that refused to disappear, but it had also brought Leon into her life.
She’d never imagined that the rookie cop she’d met on that hellish night would one day become the love of her life. Her safe place.
Claire reached up, cupped his cheek, and drew him down for a sweet kiss and Leon happily returned it with his hand resting across her thighs.
“Thank you, Leon. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She murmurs against his lips.
“I know. I’m amazing.” Claire laughed at his response and playfully shoves him away. “Get out of here!”
Leon grinned, entirely pleased with himself.
“I’ll be right back, okay?”
Claire nodded, watching him leave with a contented smile.
As soon as Leon stepped back into the hall, he made his way through the crowd, ignoring the curious glances and whispered conversations that followed him. He just wanted to find Claire’s purse and get back to her.
He headed towards the table where he thought she’d left it, scanning the surrounding chairs until he spotted the familiar bag.
He was just reaching for it when a voice called from behind him.
“Hey, Kennedy.”
Leon closed his eyes and took a slow breath. You’ve got to be kidding me.
He ignored Michael and reached for the purse.
“Take my advice, Kennedy. Put that woman on a leash.”
Leon went still.
For a moment, he simply stood there, his fingers wrapped around the strap of Claire’s purse as Michael’s words settled over him.
He could tolerate a lot of things. Arrogant men. Condescending remarks. People who thought their position gave them the right to look down on everyone else.
But disrespecting Claire? That was another matter entirely.
Leon slowly turned around.
Michael stood a few feet away, wearing the same smug expression he’d had throughout his argument with Claire. He looked entirely too pleased with himself, as though he’d been waiting for an opportunity to get the last word.
Leon stared at him for a beat. Then he punched him square in the nose.
The impact sent Michael stumbling backwards before he lost his footing and crashed to the floor. A startled gasp rippled through the nearby guests.
Michael shouted in pain, immediately bringing both hands to his nose as he struggled to sit up.
Leon stood over him, his expression cold and unimpressed. “Take my advice, get some ice for that.”
He turns with Claire’s purse in his hand and walks towards the exit without sparing Michael another glance.
Behind him, the gala erupted into shocked whispers. A few people hurried towards Michael while others stared after Leon, seemingly unable to believe what they’d just witnessed.
Leon couldn’t have cared less because Claire was waiting for him.