#deadaim

mixing up her camp with the DSO is not something claire should deal with, their proximity creating more mediatic issues than an outbreak ever could. they're supposed to stay apolitical, but shouldn't that mean that everyone gets treated regardless then? why would this mean sending a message? either way, claire wastes no time pulling leon in one of the tents when she notices the torn parts of his shirt, blood dried on the fabric suggesting it's been there for a while already. "what the hell is this?" she screams in a whisper, still aware that people around them are working and listening to them specifically. once leon is seated, slender fingers reach for hem of his shirt, slowly lifting it up. "you're being too reckless."

It was always an adventure when Leon was involved, Rose learned that early on. Never a dull moment, always being led off on some type of harmless little side mission. Ones that always peaked her curiosity in good ways and brought some type of normality in the teen's life. Even if they were short time events, she appreciated the gesture.

This is how they ended at the bank of a lake nearby. The thoughts of her test results the last thing on her mind as she watched a rock skip along the water. It was when a rock was gently tossed at her, pale hands caught it as she looked at Leon.

@deadaim ❛  come on, it'll be fun.  ❜

nights are long, days are longer. while on the first instance claire can attempt to get some sleep, in the second she's just engulfed into a state of boredom. some of her boxes are still sealed in the spare room, a mental note taken about finally opening them even though she already knows it will take a good few months to actually get started, always getting sidetracked by endless staring contest with the wall. maybe she should paint them some colour, anything else that hospital white leon seems to have everywhere. head shaking thoughts aside, claire decides to pass time rearranging the appliances in the kitchen in a way that actually makes sense to her, open cabinets and drawers sprawled all over the table in search of what to keep and what trade with things from her old apartment.

some time in between her attention has fallen on a cooking book, few recipes written in it that she can recognise from the times leon has cooked for her. tongue clicks against teeth as gaze checks the time - even though it's past the considerate time for lunch, she can still whip out something. cue a frantic search for ingredients in the fridge, knitted brows as claire wonders when was the last time leon bought groceries. a sigh pushes past lips, scraps of pasta, salmon and a few seasoning herbs gathered on the counter as if it was the most difficult time of her life. this kitchen definitely needs an overhaul.

by the time leon comes in the kitchen claire is leaning against the counter drinking the glass of wine that didn't make it in the pan along with the other ingredients. she wants to comment about the fact that he looks tired, eyes red from overexposure to the computer screen. she wants to know what is he investigating about, if her insight can be if any assistance and nobody has to know. instead claire mirrors a tired smile, arms finding their way over his shoulders when he leans in for a hug. "remote work doesn't suit you," she teases, nose brushing against hair before pressing a kiss against his temple. "but i appreciate you being here for me." one tight squeeze before pulling away, finger pointing at the food cooking on the stove.

by the time her underground adventure ( for lack of better terms ) was over, claire was already out the door. then out of the hospital. then out of an office room that should have listened to her at least a week prior except for the fact that things never fo the way she wants. in all this, nothing could have prepared the world for the loudest fuck bomb ever dropped in history - courtesy of a police officer reminding her that they're still waiting for her to swing by the station for her deposition. how could she even begin what a huge conspiracy is hiding behind the false idol that is actually the story about the hero of penamstan?

yet claire stays compliant throughout all of it, setting her record straight about it... with a little sprinkling of lies here and there - wanting to reach out to the mad dogs to talk about their contribute in penamstan, see if by any chance they would have liked to vouche for her project. it's a dumb story, fallacious at best and stupid at worst, but they don't question her: it makes claire wonder how much they know if they do, or if they're only letting her off the hook easily because they know one call to chris would have this circus over in less than a minute.

either way when she leaves, claire feels very little relief on her heart. the thing that makes her mad the most is that for budgeting reasons neil hadn't wasted a second to tell her the motel room rented through the ngo card could not sustain anymore expences for her detour, leaving claire trapped to stay over at leon's apartment until she was cleared to go. the silent tratment she's been giving him surely doesn't make things any easier, well aware that one of them will eventually have to say something else beside can i stay over? and yeah, no problem - but claire's never been good at keeping thing easy, let alone when her heart wiggles its way in the middle of them.

she doesn't expect to find him home already by the time she arrives, awkwardly trying to take off her jacket from her good shoulder now that other arm is blocked in the sling the hospital gave her. when leather lifts up and a splash of red comes into view against white wall, claire's breath hitches - of course he'd swing in to help her, god forbid leon ever stops treating her like she's always in need of him ( which could be talked about, if only she wasn't so proud )

jake can only smirk and nod at that admission . a smirk that doesn't really hold any trace of humor , nor any sign of gratefulness in his light blue eyes . he can't even make himself look up at leon , keeping his eye downcast and focused on his drink instead . waiting and waiting until the other's words died in the silence between them ... and the dull noise of the bar they are currently in .

don't get it wrong-- it's not that he doesn't appreciate the words . with his background and his experience in this little world they both wallow in , he is used to people already casting doubts and making bets on his next move . doesn't matter if they claim to be on the good side or the bad . for him , they are all the same . like vultures watching and circling him . wesker's son ... finally in the open . and they are waiting ... expecting him to continue on his father's fucked up legacy .

as if it doesn't matter what or who he is fighting for . he will always be the son of his father .

finally sparing leon a glance , he downs the remainder of his drink , which has been so diluted that all that was left was the burn . " an old friend of mine once told me that i was a waste of time and potential , before he tried to shoot me on the back of the head . like a fucking coward . " he says , leaning forward before raising a hand to the bartender for another round . " so , believe me when i tell you this : you're gonna need to do better than that if you want me to mind . i have heard worse . "

hand easily finds its way to leon's, soft smile on lips as she watches him slip both in the pocket of his coat, other hand already taking away the duffle bag from her. head rests against his shoulder as they walk in the parking lot, basking in the moment before the awful feeling settles - her report was only the first step in regards of the joint mission she's just come back from. "sorry for pulling you out of work." she lies, corner of lips pulling up into a smirk. "how was your week? better than mine i hope." words are brought to a pause, the thought of inez hitting her like rapid fire. heart sinks for a moment, already thinking about how to break it to the woman's parents that their daughter has died on the field. in cases like this claire is glad there are no elders to put such a heavy news on, but then she thinks about all the people who loves her like family and it just begins to hurt all over again. "i sent chris the report already but he asked to see me in person, so..." voice trails, leon's knowing look almost making her laugh.

@deadaim : sounds like you two have a lot of catching up to do. 

"you sure that duke guy actually knew your friend from valdelobos?" claire inquires just a little louder to her partner, still in disbelief of how small the world can be sometimes. even though it seemed like the man was making fun of their plan to help the winters, claire tried not to pay mind to it too much. after all chris has observed these people for a while - if he never found anything strange and deemed it safe for her and leon to approach then they're trusted... sort of.

earpiece in her ear buzzes for a moment, her brother's voice seemingly trying to say something. "i can't hear you!" silence follows, static noise before hand taps on leon's arm. "can you hear?" finger points at her ear, a frustrated expression already building on her features. "look, i know chris gave us orders to cover from above but something weird is happening right now - i don't think we should be here."

@deadaim : i have a mission to complete and that’s exactly what i’m going to do. 

"leon," claire calls out as hand wraps around wrist, pleading gaze searching for his. it feels personal, that she can understand. but god be damned if she lets him take even one more step. "we're leaving." the silence that follows along with stern tone doesn't leave much choice for an argument, yet knowing him for so long claire is more than aware he will still try to talk her out of it. "you got kids at home, too."

"gabe i can't see the whole quarantine zone from here, can you fly the drone a little higher please?" she requests through the comms, cheerful roger that! paired with the drone lifting up. "thank you." she counters as gaze drops on her tablet. a sigh pushes past lips, tired smile offered to pedro and inez walking by. and in all this claire still has no idea where the hell ark and neil are - one she can imagine, already on the field after their briefing on the way here ( though switching up comms would be appreciated ), while the other... well, she's stopped trying to understand anything neil does these days.

@deadaim : you sound like oprah, except mean.

when head tilts up, leon is standing by the tent entrance, greeting her with his usual cool guy demeanor that makes claire's heart flutter even though she would never admit it out loud. "i sound mean because you kept making me wait," she remarks, tablet left on the table along with her notes. "you guys took forever to give us the clear." frustration in her tone is hardto miss - sure her organisation is meant to deal with the aftermath of an operation, but it sure would be nice to have some more cooperation.

"is there anything else i need to know before letting everyone in?" she knows leon would never let her walk in a dangerous situation, but then again asking again to be sure can't hurt anyone. slender fingers idly play with the zip of his leather jacket as gaze sets on his features - an implicit way to ask him if he's fine, even though if everything goes as smooth as it's supposed to, she'll swing by his hotel room in between waiting for their respective flights to depart.