Chapter Text
It started as a casual Friday night at a lively bar in DC. The last few weeks have been hell for the whole team as they were all on separate, covert dangerous missions around the world, with little to no communication with the outside world. They finally returned home and were trying their best to forget their missions and the awaiting responsibilities by drinking and dancing the night away. Despite all the drinks and music blaring, Claire did not feel the bar scene compared to Chris, Jill, Sherry, and Jake dancing by the jukebox. Leon, on the other hand, Leon was by the dart corner, flirting and teaching the two blondes how to properly shoot the bull’s eye. Claire grabbed her coat and quietly packed up.
The two blondes shrieked joyfully when they finally hit the bull’s eye, flirtatiously hugging Leon. Feeling suffocated by their artificial personality and their hugs, Leon pulled away to find solitude by the bar with his pretty friend. But as he came to the bar, he could see no trace of his friend; her coat and purse were gone.
“Hey, did you see a pretty redhead, a ponytail with a red jacket?” Leon asked the bartender, who was more focused on the two blondes Leon was hanging out with earlier.
“Oh hey. Yeah, your hot redhead girlfriend left a minute ago.”
Leon did not correct the bartender, but he told him his place with a deathly glare. Searching left, and right, Leon saw a familiar red coat at the street stop light.
“Claire!” Leon called out to her, but she made no response. “Claire!” He began running towards her, catching up before she crossed the street. “Hey, wait for me.”
“Leon! What are you doing here? You should be back at the bar, having a fun time.” Claire puffed an icy cold breath.
Leon took off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders without a thought. Feeling her icy touch and seeing her skin quickly blend from ivory to blue, Leon grabbed her hands and walked back to the bar.
“Leon, where are we going? My moto-”
“I’m taking you home. You’re too cold to be riding your motorcycle in this weather. C’mon.”
Looking up at her friend, she smiled and couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to be Leon’s girlfriend or wife. They spent much time together talking about their days, complaining about jobs, and sharing their struggles. Leon was technically her best friend, making Claire feel safe and loved. They could tell each other anything, and there was no secret between them, except the one about CLaire’s love. Only Jill knew about her unrequited love for Leon, and it will stay that way. She’s been in love with him for the longest time, but she never dared to tell him. She couldn’t, especially not when his heart belonged to another, and the risk of ruining their friendship was too high of a stake. Claire would rather watch Leon find happiness and love in the arms of another than lose their friendship.
Claire got into Leon’s government-issued car, curling up against the leathered seat. Leon turned the seat warmer on and quickly pulled out of the parking spot. The short car ride back to his place warmed Claire’s freezing body. Entering his apartment, Claire was surprised by the pictures and personal characteristics that decorated his walls. Claire picked up a picture of Sherry, Leon, and her enjoying milkshakes at a roadside diner. It brought back so many sweet but upsetting memories.
“I wish every day was like that picture.” Leon spoke softly behind as he saw caught between nostalgia and discomfort.
“Leon.” Claire, now clutching the jacket, turned around with a faint smile. “Where’s the restroom? I need to freshen up.”
“Oh, right. It’s right through that door.”
“Thank you, Leon…for everything.”
Hiding in the bathroom, Claire felt a painful tinge of shame and regret because she left Sherry and Leon to go find her brother. She felt guilty about leaving them the way she did, considering everything they’d been through together. Seeing that picture in Leon’s apartment only worsened her guilt. But there was no way of changing it now.
A knock at the door snapped Claire out of her self-beating mentality. “Hey Claire, I left some clothes for you to sleep on the bed.”
“Okay. Thank you, Leon. I'll be out soon.”
After 15 minutes, Claire walked out wearing his old police academy sweatshirt as a dress and his sweatpants in her hand. Leon was sitting on the couch watching in complete adoration and amazement as he saw Claire look sexy and beautiful in his sweatshirt. Her beautiful ivory skin legs glistened in the dim yellow night, and her red hair flowed freely down to her shoulders. A slight but noticeable pink blush was seen on her cheeks as she tried to hide her face from his mesmerizing eyes. The person before him was a precious rarity. He wanted nothing but to take a picture, forever immortalizing this beauty in his memory.
“Leon!” Claire called out with a slight irritation in her tone. “Did you hear me?” Leon snapped out of his trance to see Claire sitting with her hand on top of his. “I accidentally dropped your pants in the toilet while changing. I swear it was a complete accident. I placed your clothes on top of the toilet, a-a-and I-I-I was trying to unzip my dress-”
“Claire! It’s okay; it’s no big deal. I’ll just put it in the washer tomorrow.” Leon was now laughing at his embarrassed friend as she bent over with her hands covering her red face.
“Leon! It’s not funny! I ruined your pants WITH TOILET WATER!” Now Claire was trying her best to be mad but seeing Leon keeling over, dying from laughter, made her laugh to death.
During the night, they ordered pizza, and now a half-eaten pizza box and several empty beer bottles later, Leon and Cleon were nestled against each other on the couch to watch horror movies. As the jump scare scene was about to come up, Claire hid her eyes behind a blanket, still peeking above it. Leon smiled at the fact that Claire, a badass woman who saves children, rebels against politicians, and kills zombies, is afraid of a ghost movie. He loved how, despite everything they’ve been through, Claire would constantly be the beacon of light and innocence in this cruel world, in his cruel world. He knew he didn’t want to lose this moment or, most importantly, Claire. Losing her would just kill him.
“AAA! Son of -” Leon chuckled at her and stroked her head. “What’s so funny?!” Claire looked up at Leon with a glare in her eyes.
“Nothing. It’s just-”
“Just what?!” Claire freed herself from Leon’s warm embrace to rise to her knees and inch her face closer to his. Leon was no longer laughing and staring straight into her blue eyes, mesmerized by her beauty.
They were both fairly drunk and with nowhere to go or be up early. They didn’t care. Leon’s eyes slowly traced along her throat and down to her heaving breasts, and he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to be under a naked Claire. She has a beautiful and amazing body, a perfect ass, and sculpted legs. Not only were his eyes tracing along her body, but his curious hands were moving under her shirt, causing her to abruptly gasp.
“Are you okay? I-I-I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Leon was about to pull his hands away, but she stopped him with her own hands.
“No, it’s not that. It’s just that your hands were cold.” Claire and Leon just stayed where they were, with Claire hovering above Leon’s sitting stature with his hands underneath her shirt on her waist and their faces merely inches away. She didn’t know if it was alcohol or her excitement that kept her here.
Growing impatient, Leon pulled Claire’s body into his, with her now sitting on his lap kissing him. He loved how a small gasp escaped her lips when he took control. His hands massaged her waist, trying to keep his lustful hands from groping her breasts. He wanted to consume her, so he took in her alluring perfume and intoxicating scent. Leon could feel himself lose all sense of control and basically everything. His mouth traveled from her plump lips to her alabaster neck, softly kissing her as he pressed her body into his to get better access. But Claire, being overwhelmed by everything, pulled away with confusion in her eyes.
“Leon, what are we doing?” she asked, but he captured her lips again instead of responding. However, he easily carried her body with his strong arms to his bedroom this time. Claire tried to pull away, but the sudden urge and lust were too overpowering to ignore. She could no longer deny her or her body what it had craved for the last few years. Maybe this was the opening she needed to pursue an intimate relationship with Leon, maybe something permanent.
He gently placed her body on his bed, never pulling away from their intoxicating kiss, but they both needed to breathe.
“God, Claire. You are so fucking beautiful,” he whispered in her ears as he kissed underneath her sensitive ears, causing her to whimper. His hands moved to the hem of her sweater and pulled the annoying fabric over her head, carelessly tossing it to the side. His mouth attacked her neck and collarbone, biting and nipping at her skin, marking her pure skin with red marks.
“L-L-Leon…ahh…” Claire managed to stutter but could barely breathe or articulate her words.
Leon silenced her with his finger while he continued sucking on her breasts, biting her peaked nipples. Without hesitation, he pulled her body closer to the edge of the bed. His hands went to her jeans, swiftly unbuttoning them, sliding them down her slim legs, and throwing them away. He teased her even more with his fingers, slowly stroking her inner thighs, strumming along her underwear’s seams.
“St-op!” She lost all patience, got up from bed, and began undressing him. In a matter of minutes, they were completely naked. Claire admires Leon’s toned muscles and hard member, and she would be a liar if she said she wasn’t intimidated. Claire kneeled down on the floor and began sucking his member. Masterfully using her tongue to taste all his juices, Leon’s view of Claire from above only made him harder.
“G-God! Claire! Please…” Leon’s head reached far back as he cums in her mouth.
“Please…what…” Claire puckered her lips, licking all the cum from her lips. Her thumbs slowly and seductively wiped all the remaining cum from her mouth. Leon could not and would not allow Claire to be the one in control tonight. Without a word, Leon picked Claire up and threw her on the bed. He spread her legs wide apart, tasting her wet core, making her whimper and cry out his name. Before Claire could cum, Leon pulled away, exposing her core to the cold air and causing her to gasp. “Leon! Come back! What are you doing?”
Lining himself up and looking into her eyes, Leon massaged his member before plunging himself into her. Claire arched her back as she mewed and moaned his name loudly; the years leading up to this moment were well worth the wait. Leon began picking up the pace, making his thrusts fast and hard. They were not making love; they were drunkenly fucking with all their control out the window. After Claire climaxed twice, Leon finally slammed into her a couple more times before he came inside her. He collapsed to the side of her, sweating and gasping for air.
Claire felt Leon fall asleep next to her, but turning to look at him, she felt a tear stream down her cheeks. She knew that he was drunk and that everything tonight meant nothing. Suddenly it hit her–they did not use protection. She turned away from Leon to weep quietly because she had wanted this for so long, but not like this. Claire felt used and dirty, like one of his casual one-night stands. With no tears left to cry, Claire succumbed to her tiredness and the alcohol and slept through the night.
The next morning was a slap to her face when she woke up alone in his bed. She slowly rose from the bed as the pounding in her head was louder than Leon, who was talking to her.
“Claire? Are you alright?” Leon walked over to her, half-naked and wet. Claire could only nod and squint at him. “Here.” Leon handed her a glass of water. “This should help.”
“Thanks.” Claire tried to reach out for his hand, but he quickly pulled away and walked towards his closet to change into his work attire. “Wait, why are you wearing your work clothes? I thought you didn’t work today.”
“I don’t. There is some paperwork I need to finish.” Claire could tell he was in a rush to leave and that he was doing all he could to avoid looking at her. “I’ll have to. leave soon, so feel free to stay and clean up before you head out.” His tone and demeanor were completely distant and cold, making Claire feel dirtier and worthless.
“Leon?” she asked softly, but he dismissed her. “Leon.” Her tone was more serious and strict, causing Leon to drop his unfastened tie.
Still avoiding her eye contact, Leon paused for a second before speaking. “Claire, about last night…that was a terrible mistake. It can never happen again.”
“Leon, I-”
“No, Claire. It’s not okay. I don’t know what I was thinking last night. It was the alcohol; I should have been smarter. Last night was the biggest mistake ever, and I will regret this for the rest of my life.” Claire stared at Leon’s back with tears pooling in her eyes. Her heart was slowly thumping as she felt it shatter into millions of pieces.
“Is this how you talk to every girl you have a one-night stand with?” she spoke with venom in her words, trying her hardest to hide her pain.
“I’m sorry Claire, but I think-”
“Don’t. Just don’t. You don’t have to say anything else; I understand.” Claire got up from the bed and began dressing. “You’re right. Last night was a mistake; the only mistake I made was thinking you were the kindest and most caring person to love. But now…all I see is an asshole.” Claire stormed out of his apartment with tears streaming down her cheeks, blurring her vision as she made her way home.
Once she got to the comfort of her bed, she began crying. How could she be so naive and stupid to think that Leon would ever see her as someone more than a friend. But now, she was nothing to him, nothing more than a mistake. He used her like all the women he slept with…everyone but Ada. Leon made it clear to her who he loved. She couldn’t believe that the man she once called her best friend, the man she was madly in love with, was the same person who said all these horrible things.
Leon sat on the edge of his bed with his head down as his eyes began watering. He had just hurt the only person who ever supported him, trusted him, and understood him. He lied to her, telling her that the best night of his life was nothing more than a regrettable mistake. His lonely nights with nameless women and the occasional Ada Wong were nothing more than a cry for help. For once in his life, he felt something more than casual neediness. He felt loved and seen by the person he loved most. He’s been secretly in love with the redhead after their horrible ordeal in Raccoon City. Claire was his friend, and loving her would only ruin her life and dreams. He could destroy the possible future of her having a normal life with a loving husband and children. He wanted nothing more than to be that loving husband that Claire so desperately deserved, to be the father of her children, but that was impossible.
This could never happen, not in this lifetime.
Leon laid back on his bed, crying that he had lost his best friend forever. But to cope with his guilt and pain, he tells himself that this is the only way for one of them to have happiness.