⠀ ⤻ ⠀ continued ⠀ reply ⠀ with ⠀@squarecranks, ⠀from ⠀here.
the two have been friends for so long now, they go way back, that chris can not help but notice the sudden jolt that goes though the other man’s body. he frowns at it, his hand outstretching, as if he’s going to rest a reassuring hand on his shoulder, yet, it falls short as barry suddenly moves. it makes him yank back, as if being close to the man burns. at barry’s words, he feels his throat tighten, nerves overtaking him, especially when barry refuses to meet his eyes, it’s not like him, and his stomach twists in discomfort. even though he can’t see it, he nods, as if to agree. it’s true, there’s a lot to unpack.
yet, there’s more. after this whole horrifying night, the words that leave his friends mouth are so unexpected. his words, admitting to helping wesker betray their whole team, it is a sharp pain, another knife in his back. this one, however, feels closer to his heart. while wesker had been their captain, he couldn’t say he was as close to him as he was to barry. he is unable to say a word, his whole body frozen into place. all he can do is stare. as barry explains, there’s a flash of sympathy in his eyes, at the mention of his family. how can he blame him for wanting to protect his family? chris would do the same for his. the words hit more than he thought they would, chris in this very moment feeling like a fool. was he not to be considered family to barry, too? it is a weakness, of course, holding him up to such high standards, but after everything, he had been his family.
the more he hears, the more he wishes that barry would just shut up. but he’s right, he does have to hear this, if he hadn’t found out about it right now, who knows how he might react to it later? chris knows that at this very moment, he is sick of secrecy. despite that it doesn’t stop the anger, frustration and hurt all building up inside of him – forest is the final straw – the one that makes the dam fall down. lips quiver, and his jaw and fist clench in unison. chris’ face shows all of his emotions, before he composes himself. though he is able to keep his composure calm, fist still loosely clenched at his side, he cannot do the same for his voice, and so, when he speaks, it quivers, ❛ you didn’t leave him to die. ❜ it is the truth, and barry should hear the truth as much as chris deserves to now. the next words lay heavy on his heart, the guilt of it all, making it so chris is the one to tear away his gaze from the other, ❛ you left him there to turn – someone else’s mess – huh? ❜ his words are venom, maybe a little too cruel, but chris can’t find it in himself to care right now. ❛ he attacked me – and i’m the one who had to kill him. ❜ even with admitting it, even though forest was gone, consumed by the virus, it did not make him feel any less guilty about pulling the trigger.
❛ fuck, barry, ❜ he chokes out after his sudden outburst, ❛ fuck, you could of told me, y’know? i would of – ❜ he stops himself before he can finish his own sentence. what could he of done? in reality, the answer was probably nothing. after tonight, he has found out that in a fight with umbrella, you were likely to lose. in defeat, chris lets his shoulders slum down, glancing pitifully at barry as he does so.
