#Welcome home rcs au

[thecluelessdoctor]

Yeah

Anyway out of a fit of boredom I quickly drew up all my AU Wally's together and holy shit there are a lot

From left to right you got lil ave home, then my first WH AU called the RCS AU. Basically @sketchquill's swap au (but older and worse), then my Seven Sins AU. OGs might remember that one. Then ofc everyone's favorite evil little guy Red Eyes Wally, then my howls Moving Castle au Wally. Idk what I was thinking. Then the Kiki's delivery service au that was quickly scrapped

I think I have problems guys

[qep0ermint]

This one is adorable Love!Wally belongs to @rc-snoop

Little fact: Yandere Wally does not welcome touching himself from anyone other than Y/N. Therefore, he will be very annoyed!

Here's what happened next:

[meiluu]

Halloween Fun

Leon S. Kennedy/ Reader(AFAB) cw: semi-public, some what rough, pwp, creampie, praise (Leon calls you his good girl). Kind of a AU where RC doesn't happen but Leon is 27 in this and is good friends with the Redfield's. I am so feral for this man Not edited*

Reader Pov.

Halloween was probably your favorite holiday, a close second to Christmas. It was a night full of devious fun and excitement and even as you've gotten older and stopped trick 'o treating the spirit of this holiday hasn't left you. With the autumn chill raising goosebumps across your skin, you make your way to the Redfield's home where a Halloween party was being held. Dressed in a very cute but tastefully revealing black-cat costume ready to see Leon's costume who had so far kept it a secret from you. Even going so far as to dress at the Redfield's house after he got off work, just so that you would get the full affect of the surprise. Walking up the stairs, your heels clicking rhythmically across the pavement. Making it to the ornate wooden door you knock and not a moment later the joyful face of Claire greets you. A squeal of you name leaves her lips, "Oh my god, you look so good!" pulling you into a warm hug a smile making its way across your face. Stepping away from the hug you admire Claire's costume of a very adorable witch with a massive hat and broom to top it all off. "Claire you look amazing!" your happiness seeping out with your words.

Once you made it inside the bass of a familiar Halloween song welcomed your ears. Tables had been set up with food and punch that had all been decorate to fit in with the holiday spirit. Scanning the people crowding the living and kitchen areas your eyes finally catch onto a all too familiar head of blond hair. And its like he knew your eyes were on him because not a moment later he's turning his head around blue eyes meeting yours. And its almost comical how Leon's face lights up at seeing you-his beautiful girlfriend-. With a few quick strides Leon soon has you wrapped into his embrace, strong arms holding you fiercely. Relishing in his comforting warmth and scent you finally pull yourself away from him to at last view his costume. A Vampire, hair pushed back and a little messy, paired with a Victorian style top the gave you the perfect view of his sculpted chest, and tight black pants and boots that accentuated his beautiful ass. It took every ounce of self control to not just drool and fall into him at just how gorgeous he looked. "Fuck you look so good baby, my imagination did not do you justice." His voice is full of love and desire, the huskiness sending shivers down your spine as your cheeks redden. "You don't look so bad yourself handsome, the wait was totally worth it." a cheeky smile takes hold of your face as you get lost within his gaze sneaking a quick kiss from his plump lips. A heady groan rumbles within his chest-his arms snake around your waist pulling you impossibly closer. Before you can take this further, he is grabbing your hand dragging you onto the makeshift dance floor as the song changes to one that has your body moving to its hypnotizing rhythm. A quick look at Leon has you smiling in pure joy, he has the cutest look upon his face one that is full of adoration for you and that sweet giddiness that made you fall in love with him in the first place.

Leon's warm and big hands hang onto you as you both enjoy each others presence, dancing together letting yourselves get lost within one another. As other bodies dance and move with the beat of the music around you, both of you get lost in the rhythms from each song that plays on the speakers. With a quick glance out the window you can now see the full moon high within the sky. Then your thoughts are interrupted by Leon's face leaning down next to your ear. "You know I've always had this stupid little dream of dancing with a beautiful girl at some party, then making a break for it and making out in some dark closet away from everyone." His chuckle follows his words, and while he laughs your mind is short-circuiting as it dreams up all of the possible scenarios of how that could play out. And as fate would have it you and Leon would fulfill his dream to the fullest.

As the moon your only source of illumination you can barely make the out the silhouette of Leon's figure, seeing as his back was blocking out the moon highlighting his body but his face was still shrouded by the darkness of the room. his lips devouring yours as his tongue dances with yours, heavy breaths leave you both but he doesn't linger for long as his lip leave a molten hot trail down your neck to the tops of your breast that are exposed by your outfit. Sucking harshly upon your skin no doubt leaving a mark behind, repeating this same motion across your neck and your breast surely littering your skin in his love bites. "Do you want to go further? We can stop here if you're uncomfortable." Even though his voice is husky with lust his words hold sincerity with them, your heart skips at how Leon has always made sure you were comfortable. "Yes, Leon please I need you now. Please." you can't keep the neediness from your voice, not that you even tried or cared enough to do so. Not now, not ever, you would never feel ashamed at how much you loved Leon and if you could would stay within his embrace for all of eternity you would.

With hurried movements and the sound of Leon unbuckling his belt, your cunt is wet with anticipation a warmth settling within the pit of your stomach. His calloused hands are pulling your your by your thighs to him a whine leaving your lips as his bulge rubs against your clothed clit sending dull waves of pleasure straight to your core. You were so thankful that your outfit was nothing but a short revealing black dress with some cheap black stockings along with some cat ears and a fake tail attached to the dress. Along with a little pair of panties that you wouldn't care if they got ripped to shreds.

Leon soon sets a teasing rhythm of grinding against your clothed cunt, pushing up your dress to where only your stocking and panties were your only barrier away from his black boxers. Sweet whimpers fall from your kiss swollen lips as Leon stifles his groans of pleasure by biting into his lip. But eventually this became insufficient to what you both wanted- Leon pushes his boxers down freeing his cock from its confines then his hands are ripping into your stockings and tearing apart your panties into nothing but shreds of cloth. Then you are reaching down grabbing onto him, eliciting a sharp grunt from him at your soft hand around him. Guiding him to your wet and wanting cunt, pushing himself into you- making sure to go slow seeing as you both had forgone the typical foreplay you did to prepare yourself for him. Reaching the end, you both are flush against each other. Starting off with a slow but deep pace, waiting until you fully become adjusted to him. Legs wrapped around his torso, Leon's body covering yours as he has his arms rested by the sided of your head. His sounds of pleasure mingling with yours, as he works to his cock in and out of your hot and wet cunt- always so inviting. "Lee- faster please." And as always Leon obeys your command, picking up his pace. Grabbing onto your hips pulling you into him with every harsh thrust. The sound of your connection echoing throughout the room, as your moans and his grunts of pleasure surround the two of you.

"God your always so good to me." Manhandling you once again to have you on your stomach, face down into the ground and your ass up. As he bullies his cock in and out of you, one of his hands leave you traveling up to your neck pulling you towards his chest- the perfect place for him to lean down and whisper into your ear. "Taking me like such a good girl. Love you." voice rough with exertion as his lust makes his voice sound like a near growl. In your pleasure riddled mind you respond with a mewl of "I love you too." In and out your mind is filled with nothing but the pleasure that Leon was bringing you, your cunt perfectly molding to his cock, become the perfect sleeve for him. A more depraved thought was brought up from deep within your mind. Should Leon want it, you would become nothing but a sweet little personal cock-sleeve to use whenever he pleased. Bending you over wherever he saw fit, maybe one day you would tell him this but for now you surrendered yourself to the now mind-numbing pace of Leon's thrusts. Your moans had risen in pitch as the intoxicating sensation of reaching your peak swelled within the pit of your tummy. Your hands desperately latched onto him, one hanging off the hand around your neck the other digging into his thigh. "Fuck- that's it, cum on my cock like a good girl." Not even a moment later you are cumming hard around him, mind blanking out as white hot pleasure rolls through your body. Your cunt convulsing around his cock and warbled moan falls from Leon's lips as soon as he cums, pulling you completely against him, as you both get lost in the feeling of Leon filling you up some of it stubbornly leaking out of you. Sweet kisses from Leon's lips bring you back down from your high, his arms keeping you secure against him. "I love you, you did so good for me my love." and there you both stay for a little while longer just relishing within the most intimate embrace one being can have with another.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, Thanks for reading hope you enjoyed. And Sorry for not posting in such a long time hopefully this makes up for my absence :)

[meanscarletdeceiver]

Question re the post about mass-produced vehicles generally not being sentient but sometimes becoming sentient if enough care and love was put into them and this being a concern for car modders: What qualifies as a "real vehicle"? I know even some 3-1/2" and 5" gauge live steam engines can pull a train with people on it. Do hobbyists who put thousands of hours into custom-built model locomotives often find that they are now parents to a living being that needs exercise and socialization?

You should probably be advised, right off the bat, that I am not a logical thinker and none of my headcanons/interpretations are consistent with the others.

I'm not so much good at "thought experiment" as "what would make a good fic?"

So I'm not sure exactly where the line is drawn—I'm open to ideas?—but I am inspired by one of @togetherness23's AUs where small models of Harold, Bertie, etc. adopt some Beatles. (It makes sense in context. Well, sorta. Well, that doesn't matter; it's delightful.)

Thus I propose the notion that, at small scales, you might give life to a lil' vehicle (even strictly a static model that can't "run" mechanically!). But it's a bit of... sub-sapient life, perhaps?

Like the difference between RC and the other toys...

... only even more exaggerated.

These "small-scale" vehicles and models don't talk, don't show any evidence of understanding humans' talk, and fail all formal intelligence tests.

But they have locomotion and will. They vroom back and forth or hover at very low heights to the ground, and they bond to their maker or other humans of their choice.

For they can be rather capricious and fey. Certainly they are so independent that they are super low-maintenance, as pets go. They are known to like disappearing (very annoying for the proud modeller!). Usually they turn up again sooner or later, but very much on their own time. Most of them are very coy about exhibitions and seem to prefer the privacy and comforts of home.

Some will run away from their owner more permanently, and may adopt some new human as "theirs." These little vehicles that run wild run the risk of becoming dirty and battered. But they don't require fuel and they are remarkably hardy. One disappeared from its creator in Uruguay in the '70s and reappeared over thirty years later in Japan, apparently with the intention of settling down with its creator's daughter, who had relocated in order to collaborate with fellow researchers at the University of Tsukuba.

There are at least a million of these lively little vehicles throughout the world, and rather than be as regulated as their larger road-, rail-, or flight-legal cousins, they are mostly ignored. If governments take notice of them at all, it is as subjects of research (are they a national security threat?—they don't seem to be) and as a pest problem.

Just spitballing. Anyone is welcome to borrow and refine the notion further.

[rainythefox]

Nightfall (Ch. 18)

Synopsis: Pre-Resident Evil 1, slight-AU/Canon Divergence. Claire Redfield comes home to visit her  brother Chris for the holidays but gets caught up in a dangerous game of  cat and mouse with Albert Wesker, the Captain of STARS, after stumbling  upon dark secrets. She can’t call the law; Wesker is the law, and she  can’t tell Chris. She is trapped…Claire/Wesker & Slight Chris/Jill (Wesker & William Bromance). Rated M for smut, language, violence, adult content.

AO3 Link

Chapter 18: Distracted

"Ugh, we made it! Finally!" Forest whined.

Chris only groaned as he, Jill, and Forest trudged through the side entrance of the RPD, heading straight for the nearest coffee pot.

"What even was that?" Jill groused, taking off her beret long enough to fluff her short hair.

"A pain in the ass, is what! I've never had to arrest Santa and elves breaking into a mall before! Why does so much weird shit happen in RC?"

Chris didn't answer, but Forest was right. It seemed like there were a lot of firsts for him as a STARS officer as well, despite his military background.

Forest groaned, rolling his shoulder. "I'm pooped!"

"Hey, we don't wanna hear it, dude," Chris grumbled to his good friend. "Jill and I just pulled a double."

"Ya ain't the only ones! Who do ya think is covering your ass today? You're welcome!"

Chris snorted as they reached the coffee station in the hallway just outside the West Office. Nearby an RPD officer purchased a snack from a vending machine.

"Wow. You and Joseph working on the same shift? Either Wesker's going senile or he just wants to punish himself today."

Jill stifled a giggle.

Forest snickered. "Nah. Probably a trap so he can murder us."

They each made a cup of coffee. Forest added a bunch of creamer and sugar to his while Chris drank his black. Jill only added a little sugar to hers. It wasn't long before two familiar faces showed up to get coffee as well. RPD officers Rita Phillips and Elliot Edward were looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed to begin their shift this morning.

"Good mornin', y'all," Rita greeted in her southern drawl.

"You three look like crap," Elliot joked. "Rough night?"

Forest ran his fingers through his long hair. "Arrested a fat man in a Santa suit with his elves breaking into the mall on east Bond."

Rita stirred her fresh coffee and blew on it. "Ha! RC knows how to keep things interesting, that's for sure."

Elliot nudged her. "Speaking of interesting, look who's back."

They followed Elliot's gaze, just in time to see Lieutenant Marvin Branagh heading for the West Office with a stalker hot on his heels. Chris recognized the reporter right away with his dark hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, the glasses and nicely trimmed mustache and goatee. Ben Bertolucci.

"Come on, Marv, work with me here!" Ben nagged, keeping up with the wearied lieutenant. "Don't you think it's just a little strange that a party where the mayor, city officials, police chief and even the STARS captain attended ended up having something happen where bodies were gurneyed out and, yet, nothing but silence?!"

Marvin stopped with his hand on the doorknob, sighing, and turned to the persistent reporter. "Ben, how many times do I gotta say it? You're barking up the wrong tree, man! Make an appointment at the front desk if you want to talk to them, but I'm telling you, there was an investigation and you'll get your answers soon enough!"

"You know they refuse to talk to me anymore!"

"Can't imagine why," Marvin groaned and stepped through the door, slamming it in Ben's face.

Ben hovered by the door, flustered. Rita shook her head. "On the trail again, eh Ben? You're a persistent one, I'll give you that."

"Someone's gotta be!" Ben stomped over to them. "So much corruption in this city, in this very police department! Ugh, Irons is just a rat, I'm telling you!"

Well, no one was about to deny that, but they also knew Ben Bertolucci was paranoid and a little out there with some of his conspiracy theories.

Forest rolled his eyes. "So what's it this time, Bertolucci? Aliens? Ninjas?"

"Always a smartass, eh Speyer? At least I want to get to the bottom of what really happened to those people. And not whatever BS they say it is!"

Chris sighed. Oh boy, here we go.

"Not every death in Raccoon City is tied to some crazy conspiracy! Get your head outta your ass!" Forest argued. "We know there's corruption here. There's corruption everywhere!"

Chris grabbed Forest's shoulder. "Let it go."

"Ben, either make an appointment or leave. We already have enough on our plates as it is," Jill said.

"Ugh, fine. I need a smoke, anyway." The reporter patted his breast pocket for his pack of cigarettes. "You guys shouldn't have your heads in the clouds so much."

Chris held Forest back as Ben sauntered off. Jill shook her head at his back while Rita and Elliot took sips of their coffee.

"See ya later, Ben," Rita called.

"Can't stand that guy," Forest grumbled. "Yeah, we know RC ain't perfect, but we work our asses off to change it every day! I mean, I hate Irons as much as the next guy. He's a sleazeball, but that doesn't mean he had anything to do with what happened last night."

"Gas leak is what David heard," Elliot piped up. "Happened in one of the hotel rooms after the party."

It was sad and unfortunate, they knew, but definitely not something out of the ordinary or suspicious. They would have to wait for the full details later.

Chris, Jill, and Forest left to return to the STARS office, taking their much needed cups of coffee with them. As tired and hungry as Chris was, the coffee might as well have been a drink straight from heaven.

They met Enrico just as he stepped out of the STARS office. The Bravo Captain waved at them with a tired smile, looking just as worn out as them.

"Get that bad Santa?" he greeted.

"Yeah. Everything went fine. Weird...but fine," Jill answered.

"Knew I could count on you three. I'll see you around. Have some errands to run."

"Hey," Forest called before Enrico could get far. "Did you get that repair budget approved for the STARS van so I can work on it?"

"Oh...right. No, I didn't. Sorry, Forest. I had a million things going on tonight." Enrico rubbed his mustache and glanced at his watch. "Take it up with Wesker. He should be in shortly."

"Oh, so you want me to die today. Ok, cool."

The STARS Vice-Captain chortled as he walked away. "Don't be a baby, Speyer. You can always go talk to Irons yourself."

"Fuck that noise!"

Enrico's hearty, deep laugh echoed down the hallway as the three STARS members entered the office. As tired as he was, Chris still went to his desk to at least start his report before going home. Jill sat down beside him with the same intentions while Forest unlocked the armory, grumbling something about Joseph and Richard that Chris didn't pay attention to.

He wondered if Claire ended up spending the night at the Birkin house babysitting or if she was able to go home. She had told him she didn't know when they would return home but that they would give her a ride home when they did. Considering he never got a call from her, Chris could only hope that his little sister had an uneventful, safe night.

It was only while expanding his thoughts to the William Birkin fellow and how he was friends with the Captain that Chris realized something tiny still ate at him about it. For some reason he recalled Kendo's remarks of spotting Wesker and Claire together across town again.

He quickly buried and dismissed it. It was just him. Everything was fixed now. Everything was fine.

In just three days it would be Christmas. Claire's babysitting gig would be up, and they would enjoy a nice holiday with each other and their friends. Chris couldn't wait to give Claire her gift. It was a special order for something she'd wanted for a while. Chris had only pretended to ask her what she wanted for Christmas to throw her off.

Kenneth Sullivan arrived shortly after that last thought, carrying a case and a travel mug that was no doubt full of coffee. The Bravo member went straight to his desk while stifling a yawn and waved at them with a dad-like smile. "Mornin' kiddoes. Any of you freeze your asses off yet? Cold out there!"

"Morning, Ken," Chris and Jill greeted.

"Hey Sully, you got your video recorder today?!" Forest yelled from the armory.

Kenneth sighed with a small shake of his head. "Nah, man. It's still getting upgraded. Why?"

"Oh, for posterity! In case I get fucking murdered today."

Kenneth snorted, eyes on his computer, fingers clacking on the keyboard as he signed in. "Hey, that'll be on you, bro. Leave my old ass outta it."

"Frost and Speyer on the same shift today," Jill stated, not looking up from her report.

"Oh!" Kenneth grimaced. "Well, hell. Boss done lost his damn mind!"

Forest barely made it out of the armory with two ammo cases, carrying them to his desk, when the office door opened once more. Forest, quiet until he realized it was just Joseph, hollered out to his good friend.

"Hey Frost, on time for once!"

"We're gonna die," Joseph panted, pressed against the door, a little panicked. He hurried to his desk, just on the other side of Forest. "It was nice knowing y'all. Forest, we ain't gonna make it ten minutes, you and I."

"Great."

Jill sighed as she scribbled through a note stuck on her case file. "Are you being overdramatic again, Joe?"

"Probably," Kenneth mumbled.

"No! Someone or something got his panties in a twist this morning."

"Joe, calm down. He smells fear," Forest said while opening one of the ammo crates.

"I know! Where's Chickenheart when you need him?!"

"Oh, quit your whining. You two make it worse half the time," Chris grumbled. He understood. Wesker had days when he was a complete dick. There were days Chris challenged him every chance he got, days where he and Wesker absolutely did not like each other. But it was rare anymore. He surely hadn't quite grown out of his rebellious, stubborn streak. He just knew how to apply it to other aspects of his job that made him a better officer.

"Easy for you to say, Redfield. You get to go home soon," Joseph grumbled.

"Ehh, he probably didn't get laid after that fancy party last night. Can't blame the guy, I suppose," Forest quipped.

Jill barely had time to roll her eyes before the door opened again and everyone but her and Kenneth froze. Why would they? It wasn't as though Jill or Kenneth ever got on the Captain's bad side and so barely reacted to his mood. Chris looked, just to see if Joseph was being dramatic, because, well, he was a little dramatic at times. Not as much as Brad, but still.

Chris knew Wesker well enough to know that he was not happy. The man had great control over his emotions, but something or someone had him fuming beneath his skin. The only outward sign was his clenched jaw and narrowed eyes, since his sunglasses were currently hanging from his breast pocket.

Oddly enough though, his sharp, aggravated glare did not immediately go to the two that often got under his skin, but straight to Chris himself. His brain panicked, trying to think of something he may have forgotten to do or something he could've done to have drawn his Captain's ire over Frost and Speyer of all people.

If looks could kill, Chris would've been dead.

Thankfully, it only lasted a few moments, despite feeling like a millennium. Chris could breathe again, pulse pounding in his temple. Wesker's glare went straight to Forest, and he knew he was fucked.

"Speyer, my office. Now." And he slipped into the small office to the side of the STARS entrance door.

"Ugh." Forest whined, getting up. "Tell my momma I loved her."

Chris's good friend entered the office and shut the door behind him. They all waited, listened. But no harsh voices came. Chris was relieved and tried to get back to work, still confused over what happened.

"You piss him off somehow?" Jill whispered.

"No idea."

He took it as a sign though. He saved his report and gathered up his stuff to leave, peering down at his partner when he realized she was still hard at work, flipping through a case file.

"You staying?"

"Yeah. I have two case reports due today and one of them is the Boeler case." She gave him her trademark "I got this" smirk. "I won't be much longer. You're not gonna stick around and make sure your good buddy comes out of there alive?"

"After the look I got, Forest is on his own. He'll understand."

Jill chuckled and went back to work. Chris messed up her hat as he walked by, and she retaliated with an elbow to his gut. Chris waved goodbye to them, intending to sneak out to his freedom, but just as he reached the door, Forest stepped out of Wesker's office.

The Bravo marksman didn't look mad or scared, mostly confused.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah. Flying with Brad to Fairview today."

"Was that why he was mad?" Surely not. It wasn't as though flying the choppers to Fairview for maintenance was anything out of the ordinary. Brad could only do so much with the equipment and setup here.

"No." Forest scratched his head. "Kinda weird, man. Never seen him like that before. He was mad, but he wasn't. Fucking distracted. Whoever put him in that mood really got their A-game going on. And now I have to contemplate what the fuck I'm doing with my life."

Wesker distracted? Was that even possible?

Chris shook his head with a sigh. "Stay out of trouble, ya idiot."

He bumped fists with Forest and left. He could feel the exhaustion in his body taking over. He was ready to hit the sack and sleep all day after the night he had. Once he made sure Claire was home safe and sound first, of course.

Tracking Stephan Bennett's movements through Raccoon City after he'd absconded from Bard's Christmas party had proved to be a surprising challenge for Ada, even with the tracking bug Claire had attached to him. It was night. It was freezing. There was snow everywhere. It really was no fun at all. Zero out of five stars, wouldn't recommend.

Stephan's driving was reckless and urgent, making it hard to tail him in an inconspicuous way. But seeing as he bailed out of the old hotel with a snapped forearm, she wasn't surprised. He was in dire need of medical care.

It was obvious that Albert had gotten a hold of him and killed all of his men. Ada was still reeling from the fact that Albert chose to protect Claire over getting his easy ticket to Roth. The ticket that would've given him the preemptive strike. As shocking and fascinating as it was to see Albert Wesker show such behavior to anyone other than William Birkin, it was a double-edged sword. Claire may have been saved from a terrible fate at the hands of Roth, a known human trafficker for Umbrella and other companies, but all it proved was that Albert wasn't going to let her go.

She followed Bennett to the Apple Inn first. It didn't take long for Roth to come out of the side entrance into the parking lot. Hiding in plain sight this whole time? The sneaks!

Using her listening device while parked on the street further down, Ada was able to tune in to an argument between the two over what happened. Ada didn't need her binoculars to see Roth's face when Wesker's name was dealt. There was a heavy silence, the kind that tended to settle when your worst fears came to realization. Next thing Ada knew, Aaron Roth was hopping in the driver seat and they were off again.

"Too late to skip town now, hmm Roth?" Ada asked. "After this long, you finally have to face him."

The spy followed them to a medical clinic in Cider District, just south of west Ennerdale Street. She parked the beat up, inconspicuous van across the street at a STAGLA gas station. Watching. Waiting. This wasn't an "after hours" clinic, but, apparently, they had an ally here waiting for them, to set Bennett's arm no doubt. Ada would be here for a while…

She got the short end of the deal tonight, but then again, she was curious how this was going to end.

Luckily, she brought a blanket and a thermos full of coffee.

Mostly, this allowed Ada's mind to wander as she watched with patience akin to a feline. She thought over the night so far. The mission at Bard's Christmas party went smoothly until the hotel room, but once again Claire proved she was more than capable of handling herself through wit and tenacity. Ada admired her and actually hoped the girl would get her happy ending.

Ada frowned, popping the lid on her thermos and taking a sip of coffee. Unfortunately, Albert held the same admiration for Claire but with a darker twist that bordered obsession. A possessive kind of smitten she'd never seen from him before. She had no doubt where Albert and Claire ended up after the party, or the nature of their evening.

Claire didn't strike Ada as the kind of woman who was into "bad guys". She was also too smart and grounded to know that there was nothing she could mend or tame in Albert Wesker, despite any attraction or feelings she may have for him. The truth of the matter was that Albert had entranced her, as he often did. Charm was second nature to him, just like manipulation, just like his desire for control. Claire had no idea who she was sleeping with. She thought she did, but it was a droplet in the ocean. But if Wesker's obsession kept her in his bed, she would be drowning in that ocean soon enough.

Something else perturbed Ada in the quiet of the night. The settling of the cold encroached inside the van, through her coat, through her blanket. Beams of headlights passed by along the street between her and the clinic. The gas station was open all night, the only bright light near her, but she had parked away from direct traffic coming in and out.

She lost count of the time waiting and watching. No movement came from the clinic. Ada didn't like the feeling in her gut, and figured it was time to bug Roth's car and send Albert a coded message, although she doubted he would even read it tonight. Not while he had Claire in his bed.

Just as the spy sat her thermos in the center console, a couple of sharp taps scraped her window. Ada sighed. There it was. She turned to look through the tinted driver window of the van, expecting Roth or some of his men, but instead she was quite surprised. And she hated surprises.

Wesker didn't say a single word when Claire got out of his car and slammed the door shut. He clenched his jaw as he reversed out of her driveway and drove for the police department.

"So who's really complicating shit here?"

The nerve of that woman. She never ceased to both infuriate and enthrall him. If he hadn't been running late already, he'd be tempted to follow her into the house and settle the tension in a different manner.

He squeezed the steering wheel, drowning the urge. That thought irritated him further as it evinced what he had been denying for days - that Claire had pull over his self-control.

He simmered in frustrated silence until he arrived at the RPD. It stayed with him as he marched his usual route from his parking space towards the STARS office.

And just was his luck as he was halfway across the main hall, babbling voices of a busy morning like static in his ears, one voice boomed above them all carrying his name.

"Wesker!" Irons called, standing near the Goddess statue. "C'mon, we're going to my office. We need to have a little chat."

In other words, Irons had questions about what happened at Bard's Christmas party. But Wesker was far from in the mood to deal with him currently.

"Sounds like the perfect place for you to waste oxygen. Without me."

The STARS Captain stepped right past the Police Chief without missing a beat, not bothering to watch Irons' predictable reaction: flushing, floundering words. The chattering officers nearby instantly hushed, becoming shocked onlookers. One of them was Joseph Frost and Wesker was about to order him to get to work when a sharp whistle caught his attention.

"Hey, Wesker!"

It was Enrico. He was at the top of the stairs in the main hall talking to a veteran police officer. After a cheerful farewell and "Merry Christmas" to his colleague, the Vice Captain of STARS met Wesker at the bottom of the stairs, greeting him with a tired smile.

"Got the all clear for the Bravo helicopter to be delivered in Fairview, but Vickers will need help troubleshooting some of the squawk sheet."

Frost slinked by them as quickly and quietly as possible. Enrico watched him go with furrowed brows.

"Hey Joe, what's the hurry?!" And then sighed. "Kids these days."

"Is there anything else?" Wesker asked as amiable as he could, despite his agitation.

"Not anything out of the ordinary. What about you? I heard about that gas leak at the hotel. Weren't you at that party?"

"That was after I left."

"I don't know how you can rub shoulders with all those politicians and rich folk, Wesker."

"Child's play," Wesker boasted, heading up the stairs. "Politicians are easy to entertain."

Easy to extort. Easy to control.

Everyone was.

He continued treading for the STARS office, too distracted and annoyed to get coffee.

Through all of his frustration and anger, however, Wesker realized it wasn't directed at Claire, but what she claimed. And she was right.

He was angry with himself. He was the one complicating matters, all because he wanted her. Things would've gone oh so differently had it been anyone else but Claire. Perhaps Aaron Roth would be bowing at his feet right now.

As vexatious as Claire was, he had always admired her, but now she had his full adulation. Her goal was to piss him off and she did, but what she didn't know was that it also had the opposite effect of what she was striving for.

And Wesker acknowledging all of this only frustrated him further. No one else could've done that to him, and it reinforced his desire to have her to himself. Unfortunately, too many factors prevented that from happening. Entering the STARS office, still seething beneath his skin, Wesker glared at one of the main obstacles in his way.

Chris.

He actually liked and respected Chris compared to most, but wanted him dead in that moment. But Wesker knew better. If he really wanted Claire to himself, he would have to be patient and play his cards right. Both of which he was adept in.

All in due time...

"Speyer, my office. Now."

Wesker slipped into his room and went to his desk, sitting down just as Forest entered and closed the door behind him. The STARS Captain already had messages on his answering machine, but ignored them for now.

"Mornin' Captain. What can I do ya for?" Forest greeted.

Though a great officer with exceptional training and experience, Wesker could hardly stand him at times. His typical carefree greeting would've annoyed him like most other mornings, but Wesker was still distracted by a certain redhead and how she had called him out.

"You're accompanying Vickers to Fairview today. The Bravo helicopter needs servicing. He has the discrepancy sheet. I want them all cleared."

Forest was quiet for a moment, bouncing his foot on his knee, confused yet curious. "Yeah, sure. Not a problem, Cap. We'll get it done."

Typical Forest Speyer. Trying to appease and annoy him at the same time…

Claire would often bounce her leg when she was deep in thought. It did wonderous things to the muscles in her calf that in turn did something to his muscles.

Had he really gotten off on that tangent because of Speyer? He had to focus before this simple assignment meeting wasted any more of his time.

"Good," he said as he regained his mental composure. "You are excused."

The Bravo marksman slowly stood up, baffled, scratching his neck as he exited the Captain's office.

After Forest left, he still wasn't quite himself. Calmer, but still distracted. After pressing the playback on his answering machine, he listened to the voicemails while thinking back to his and Claire's night at his house. The amazing sex, sure. But that "heart-to-heart" later had a curious effect on him that he couldn't quite place.

Wesker checked his pager and found no messages from William or Ada. He recalled William mentioning he had to go to the Spencer estate this morning. He probably wouldn't hear from him until this evening. Ada was most likely still doing surveillance on Roth and Bennett.

Until he heard from her, they couldn't move forward. Sighing, Wesker turned on his desktop and got to work.

Wesker checked his watch as he made his way through NEST. 6:42 P.M. He'd only just left his shift at the RPD and went home to change before coming here, bringing with him the same headache that had plagued him all day. The underground facility's bright lights only made it worse despite him wearing his sunglasses.

He had yet to hear from Ada. On top of that, he just couldn't get his mind off of Claire. Both of which irritated him. Perhaps Ada got tied up somehow. Or something happened to her. Either way, they didn't have much time left.

As he rounded one corner, closing in on William's laboratory, other researchers staying out of his way, his thoughts switched back to Claire. By now Roth would know that it was Wesker who was after him. He knew little about Stephan Bennett, but Wesker knew his type. He would seek payback for what happened last night. Roth would know better though. Claire should be safe for now. However, he made a mental note to keep more eyes on her. He had already done so for William outside of NEST...without him knowing of course.

"Good evening, Dr. Wesker!"

"Hello, Dr. Wesker."

Two young, attractive female researchers pulled him out of his thoughts. An unwanted distraction.

"Ladies."

Instantly charmed, they crooned as they went on their way. Wesker rolled his eyes and took the next left to William's laboratory. He didn't acknowledge the guard, regrouping his thoughts as the electronic doors slid open after reading his ID wristband.

He looked around the main area, but William wasn't around. Neither was Annette.

"Will?"

He proceeded to the back rooms, one of which was a rest area.

Just try it, Will. I will break your nose again.

But no attempted jump scares sprang on him. Surprisingly, he was spared such antics this time. He didn't find his partner in the resting area, but in one of the smaller back labs analyzing blood and tissue samples. William chewed on his lip, deep in thought, fingers hovering over the keyboard of a nearby computer.

Wesker could instantly tell William was more restless than usual, and something had him quite conflicted. He whistled sharply. Will jumped, whipping around in surprise. He sighed in relief and relaxed.

"Hey Al, my pal!" Such a remark was typical of him, but Wesker knew this one was forced. An attempted front to distract Wesker from his real mood. Ambivalence was the main thing he felt from his partner.

William slapped him on the arm and pointed to the case of glass vials with glee. "Look who I got to see today!"

Wesker picked one up, turning it in his fingertips as he read. "Lisa? You haven't needed samples from her in a long time."

"Yeah, and it was a bitch as usual. She still remembers me. Still wants to rip my face off. Probably so she can wear it." He shivered at the thought.

He went back to typing on the computer, more focused than before, but still preoccupied...still anxious. Wesker waited for a moment, expecting William to demand details on his night with Claire. But it never came. All he rambled about was getting poker winnings from Scott and Steve at the Spencer estate.

Suddenly indignant, Wesker glared at Will, and it was enough to make him trail off. "What?"

"I figured you would've been begging for details on my night with Claire over whining about winnings from a poker game two months ago."

Will huffed. "First of all, Steve's a scumbag and he cheated! Second, anyone with eyes knows what happened between you two last night, and it does me no good to beg for details because you won't share them! Thirdly, I find it so adorable when you get upset when I don't give you attention."

Another typical response that was delivered too forcefully. Wesker restrained himself from slugging his partner, only because he now had no doubt something was wrong with him. William might've been a good poker player with anyone else, but he wasn't with him.

Wesker was about to confront him, but then dropped it. There was a more important issue right now. "Ada has yet to contact me."

William forgot about the samples, peering at him with a surprised yet concerned frown. "What? Really? That's not like her. You think something happened?"

Wesker thought about it. "There's a good possibility she's been compromised at this point. If so, our next move is crucial."

William slowly nodded, unsure. There weren't too many who could get the upper hand on Ada Wong, but Roth could've been one of them. He always had many tricks up his sleeve. Wesker had been after him for a few years now. This wasn't just about stopping Roth from selling their research. A mere stick in the fire. Wesker was after something much bigger from the information broker.

"What do we do? Without Ada, we don't know where they are."

"After what happened at the party, it's probable that Roth will contact me. For a truce, no doubt." Roth wasn't the gloating type. Always level-headed, he'd play his capture of Ada in a more resourceful manner.

"Then what? We're running out of time to kill the bastard. Keeping Bard and Mueller around is one thing, but Roth has to go!"

William still didn't know. Wesker wanted it to remain that way. He couldn't know his true motives in this stratagem. Bard and Mueller were easy to control. Pawns on a chessboard. Roth wasn't so easy. But if Wesker could get him right where he wanted him, then he would be pocketing a rook.

"His partner, Stephan Bennett, is quite predictable. He'll want revenge for what happened last night. Not just on me, but on Claire. He's attracted to her."

"He's definitely got a hard-on for her, yeah."

Wesker scowled, resisting the urge to grind his teeth. "I may be able to use Claire to lure him out. If we can get to him, we can get to Roth."

Had Wesker let Claire be taken in the first place, they wouldn't be in this situation. Then again, Ada going MIA wasn't something he had expected.

Will's brows rose high on his forehead. "You...want to put Claire at risk?"

"You're surprised?"

He half-shrugged. "Well, you just seem...well, protective of her, I guess. Considering what happened at the party."

Wesker sighed. "Don't be absurd. I'll use Claire any way I wish."

His partner pursed his lips, attention slipping back to his computer monitor like he didn't believe him one bit. "Yeah, okay."

"Besides. She won't be at risk. Once Bennett takes the bait, I am free to finish what I started at the hotel."

"You sure do have it out for this guy, huh? A small fry like Bennett? Why? Because he has a thing for Claire?"

Wesker folded his arms. "Okay, Will. What is troubling you?"

Will exhaled sharply through his nose. "There you go again, changing the subject to avoid something you don't want to admit. Always deflecting. Gettin' old, Al. And I'm peachy, by the way. Just a bad day. Just stressed that my research is about to be sold to any two-bit moron to make Roth rich."

Wesker remained silent. Twenty-six years. Twenty-six years he's known William. The majority of his life. The two of them knew each other too well at this point. There was no doubt that William was telling the truth just now. But it still wasn't what was bothering him. He wondered if Spencer had complained about the progress of the G-Virus again, but William would've mentioned that.

Perhaps it had something to do with him. William's gaze on him was strange today, as though he had suddenly sprouted another appendage and William wasn't sure how to compliment him on it.

Instead of pushing William, Wesker sighed, dropping his arms with a shake of his head. "I won't allow it to happen. We are in the endgame now, Will. Keep it together. The final pieces are about to make their play. That includes Claire. That includes us. I need you focused."

William glumly nodded. "Yeah...anything for you, Al."

Wesker hesitated, and he hated that. It was as if he knew he was supposed to say something more to his partner, but he just couldn't articulate it. He turned and left William's side. It was better if he left for now.

"Hey, Al...about Anezka…"

Wesker stopped, tensing. He glared over his shoulder at William, unknowingly clenching a fist. William hesitated now, as if the words he had formed suddenly dissipated and he awkwardly tried to think of something else. "I...I like Claire better. I-I know the situation is a bit more...complicated, but I think you do, too. You should own up to it already."

"And what purpose would that serve?" Wesker asked.

"I don't know. Maybe you'll find out soon. Besides, what's the purpose of holding onto whatever feelings or resentment you have for Anna?"

Never had William challenged him like that before. It took much of his self-control to contain himself and not beat his partner to a pulp. At the same time, he commended William for such a move. The Golgotha researcher remained frozen by his station, only concerned curiosity on his features.

Wesker ground his teeth and walked out.

Her mind was on auto-pilot. After entering the house, Claire hardly recalled storming into her room and stripping down to nothing. Next thing she knew hot water was spraying down her bare back in the shower.

As hot as she could stand it.

Steam fogged up the bathroom while her thoughts sieved through the events and emotions of last night. The Christmas party. Bennett. The way his arm snapped like a dry twig, the crack echoing in her ear. Bennett's men, eyes cold, sprawled at her feet. The intense feeling in Wesker's car. The even more intense sex at his house. Sleeping in his bed. Sitting in his lap. The way he looked at her. How he recalled a dead mother he never mourned or cared about just to propitiate her.

How he had laid claim to her and had "spared" her brother for those intentions.

She scrubbed every inch she could scrub. Revolted, but pissed more than anything. Pissed at herself. Pissed at him. Maybe a little scared, if she had to be honest with herself. She was in a bad situation. Real bad.

Why me?

Why did she have to go on that hiking trail?

Why was Wesker obsessed with her? Was it her looks? Her red hair? Her charming, ladylike personality? Did she remind him of his past lover who had run off? Surely not. He was the type of man who could have any woman he wanted. Maybe she just wanted to know how she was different from them all. How was she special?

She clawed her scalp, the shower drowning out her aggravated moan. Her thoughts confirmed what she had been trying to swallow all along...She had developed her own unhealthy feelings for him, too.

Claire toweled herself off and returned to her bedroom. She looked her nude body over in the full-length mirror. The bump on her head from her scuffle with Bennett had gone down, and now only a little cut remained, hardly noticeable. But she noticed other marks on her body and she knew what they were from. None of them bothered her except for one she noticed - just as Chris came through the front door calling her name.

"Claire? You home?!"

That fucking asshole!

The small hickey was fresh on the side of her neck and there was no denying what it was. She shouldn't have been surprised, honestly, with how fervent last night had been.

"I'm here, hold on!" Claire hollered back. She let her hair down from the towel and fixed it to where it covered the mark up.

She did her best to bury her stressed thoughts, eager to see Chris after all that had happened. She practically flew out of the bedroom and nearly barreled him over with a hug.

"Hey, there ya are!" Chris said, relieved. "Everything alright?" He squeezed her tight.

As much as she really missed him and was worried about him, Claire dialed it down so her brother wouldn't get suspicious.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just missed you. Did you have a good night?"

"Well, it was a night, anyway. What about you? Are you just now getting back?"

Chris looked exhausted, like he would pass out any moment. His eyes watered after a big yawn and so he rubbed them.

"Oh...yeah, I am. It went well. I had an...uneventful night." She forced a smile, ignoring the pang in her heart.

That was the biggest lie she had ever told him…and she had told him quite a few these past couple of weeks.

Chris nodded, relieved, scratching his face where stubble had formed. He would be off to bed now, blissfully unaware that Claire was nearly killed tonight. Blissfully unaware that his boss had killed her assailants like they were nothing. Blissfully unaware that his sister and boss were now some kind of twisted lovers. Blissfully unaware that Claire was doing everything she could to keep him safe.

"I'm glad everything went fine for you, Sis. I'm gonna hit the sack. This double-shift really kicked my ass."

Claire pecked him on the cheek before he shambled away. Claire reluctantly watched him go. She wanted him to get his rest and was worried about him, but him leaving her alone meant she would be forced to confront her thoughts and feelings, currently in shambles.

She went to bed, too. The rest would do her some good as well, if she could sleep. Balling up under the covers, Claire squeezed her eyes shut, as if that would shut out all the emotions consuming her, the most she had ever felt at once, so intense she felt sick to her stomach. It bothered her more than the soreness in her muscles or in between her thighs.

She only hoped calling Wesker out flustered him beyond control. She hoped she drove him insane, just like he did with her.

She woke up before Chris. Claire was surprised she even managed to get any rest. Knowing her brother would sleep a while longer after such a long shift, she made herself a small breakfast even though it was after lunch time.

She kept her mind distracted with a book, not too keen on going out for a jog any time soon. When she couldn't focus on the mystery thriller, she resorted to television to keep her darker thoughts at bay, absently rubbing her neck as she changed channels.

Then the phone rang. Claire got up and answered it. "Hello?"

"Hey stuck-up, how're you?"

It was Barry. His hearty chuckle instantly made her smile. "Stuck-up? How?"

"I've only seen you once since you've been in town. When you came over for the game, remember? And now you're taking a babysitting job that ain't Moira and Polly. I see how it is."

Claire laughed. "Oh whatever, Barry! If I'm so stuck-up, maybe I'll just hang up."

"Now, I wouldn't put that past you if it was someone other than Uncle Barry."

Claire shook her head. "You wanting to speak with Chris? He's sleeping."

"Nah, just checking in. I know he was really beat according to Jill. Anything I can do for you two?"

That was just like Barry. Always looking out for them. "We're good. Thanks."

"You guys are still coming over for Christmas, right? Kathy and I are making all the fixin's and you know that woman cooks like a boss. It's a crime against humanity to miss out on her green bean casserole."

"Yep, we'll be there."

"You better! Well, I should get back to work. Take care. Let me know if you need anything."

"Will do, Barry. Bye."

After hanging up, Claire realized she still needed to pick up gifts for Moira and Polly. Some time ago, it had become tradition that Chris handled the gifts for Barry and Kathy while she handled the gifts for the girls. Claire didn't mind that in the slightest. She had babysat the girls for years and considered them like nieces to her. Though close in age, the Burton sisters were quite different. Moira was adventurous and curious, always ready to play. Polly was a bit more introverted, just as entertained with a book or a puzzle. Despite that, they were really close to each other.

Chris woke up not long after her chat with Barry. Thankfully, the Redfield siblings decided to hang out at home. Claire wasn't up for going out after the night she had, and apparently neither was Chris. They watched some movies and played games. Chris didn't ask Claire why she kept her hair down because, luckily, that was a common habit for her at home.

Later they practiced guitar with each other, playing a song their dad loved playing for their mom. In the siblings' heart of hearts, it was a gift to their lost parents.

It pained Claire to know that she would have to go another year without seeing that picture of her parents. Another year closer to forgetting their faces.

Just before bed, Chris turned on the news to check the weather. And although the local news channel displayed the winter weather report on the bottom banner, the current story was of a "gas leak" that had killed a few people in the Grand Hotel.

Claire squeezed her pajama bottoms tight in her fingers listening to all the lies being reported. It took place after the upper-class party being held at the Orient Restaurant inside the hotel and was of no relation. The victims didn't know about the leak and were discovered by a "friend" after expiring.

"What a tragic accident," Chris stated, clicking the remote to turn off the TV. "The only good I see is at least they didn't feel any pain."

Claire bit her lip, barely nodding. But they did feel pain...a lot of pain. Your boss killed them with no mercy. One of them is still running around with a broken fucking arm. And they all covered it up like it was nothing…

Those men meant her harm. Perhaps they got what they deserved, but that wasn't the point. She saw them dead. It was ingrained in her mind. There was no way to pass it up as a "gas leak". The man's neck that Wesker had snapped had him looking like something off of the Exorcist. There was no way a coroner could mess that up…

Which meant what she already knew deep down. Wesker wasn't bluffing. It was one thing passing off the death of Finley or Lowery going missing. This was bigger, and they had swept it under the rug like it was a little dust bunny. It wasn't just the Police Chief that was corrupted. There were other cops and officials on that side of the fence, probably mired in holes Wesker manipulated them to dig themselves, kind of like her.

He did control Raccoon City. And now Claire could only wonder why. Wesker was obviously a control freak and power-hungry. But if she knew anything about him now it was that every single thing he did had a purpose. He was too methodical and compartmentalized everything. She wanted to know what his endgame was. She wanted to know what he was truly after.

"Earth to Claire!" A hand waved in front of her face.

"Huh?"

"You sure have been spacey lately. I asked if you would take me to work in the morning."

"Oh, sure. No problem. I gotta do some last minute Christmas shopping anyway. For the girls."

"Remember, we're doing lunch tomorrow. Or did you forget?"

Claire playfully glared at him. "No, I have not! Get to bed, jerk."

Chris yawned and stretched. "Yep. Goodnight, Spacey."

Claire grabbed the throw pillow from the couch and smacked him across the face with it.

"Oof!" He retaliated by grabbing the other pillow and smacking her back.

A short pillow fight ensued before the siblings succumbed to laughter. Chris retreated to his room, claiming she had given him a concussion with a pillow. Claire shook her head and returned the pillows to their rightful place, settling back down onto the couch.

She took a moment, listening to the sounds inside the house. The central heat kicking on, the hollow tick of the living room clock, the echoing of Chris's water faucet in his bathroom as he brushed his teeth. Chris's bad singing.

After all she had been through, Claire was thankful this home remained a safe haven from it all. For both of them. A respite from the world outside, the world Claire now knew was not at all like it seemed.

Her main purpose still was to protect her brother, to save them both. Unfortunately, she feared she made it all the more complicated by laying with the Devil. Now only time would tell what would happen from remaining in his bed.

The following morning, Claire dropped Chris off at work and then went gift shopping for Moira and Polly. Later she found a nice sketchbook and thought of Sherry. She recalled the girl's old, weathered sketchbook that was falling apart and full of loose drawings. Without a second thought, Claire grabbed it and a basketful of art supplies.

Sherry's gonna love this!

Once she returned home, the younger Redfield had some time to kill wrapping the gifts before she would meet Chris at the RPD for lunch. She decided to take a shower since she didn't have time earlier. Although the night before was still heavy on her heart and mind, she made sure to cut this shower shorter than the last.

She got dressed a little more "girlier" than usual, and she wasn't sure why: dark, slim jeans, tall boots, a low-cut blouse and a jacket. She did put her hair up, but was able to hide the hickey with a soft scarf.

Thank god it's winter!

After a little makeup, Claire was ready to go. She checked her watch. If traffic was good, she would get there on time. She turned the light out of her room and went for the kitchen where the house and truck keys hung.

As she came to the end of the hallway a bad feeling came over her. A second later, she was hit from behind and shoved out into the open living room, where two other sets of hands grabbed her.

Shifting to self-defense mode like a reflex, Claire kicked one intruder hard in the gut and away from her. The other clasped one hand around her throat, squeezing tight. A sharp blow to her ribs nearly knocked the air out of her before she realized who it was. Bennett. It was Bennett!

Furious, Claire snatched his fingers around her throat and bent them backwards. One finger snapped and Bennett closed in with a yowl. Claire saw her opening. She bashed her head into his face - and felt his nose crack. She wasn't done, Bennett's cry like music to her ears, and aimed for his broken arm next.

She was restrained from behind by a man in tactical gear and he punched her in the back of the head in warning. Bennett cursed, pulling a handkerchief from his breast pocket to stop the red fountain gushing from his nostrils. A folded-up piece of paper, dislodged from the pocket in the process, fell to the floor unnoticed.

"I said easy!" snapped the intruder she had kicked away from her. Aaron Roth. She just now realized it. "Stephan, get your shit together! We can't leave any traces and we aren't supposed to hurt her!"

Bennett didn't answer him, too busy putting pressure on his nose while it bled like a river. He was certainly going to feel that for a while. His glare at her was murderous. The man would see her dead - or worse - if he was given the chance. Claire kept his gaze with her own glare.

"Want me to sign your cast, Bennett?" Claire sneered. "I'll put a big "fuck you" on it!"

"Miss Redfield, I am sorry. I am sorry it has come to this," Roth said, a pitying smile on his handsome, clean-shaven face. He looked just as he had when she bumped into him outside Raccoon University: a man in his early thirties, well dressed, lustrous brown locks and clever green eyes. He might have looked friendlier than Wesker, but Claire knew that to be subterfuge. She could feel it in her bones, he was just as astute.

Still fighting the steel hold of the man behind her, she glared at Roth. "What the hell do you want with me?"

Roth pressed his lips together before they slowly upturned into a sad, sly smile. "Well, honey, that depends on what you're willing to give us."

The back door opened. Heavy footsteps plodded through the kitchen, and the newcomer soon emerged into the living room.

Claire stopped fighting. Panic ripped through her chest, her stomach clenching in disgust and fear. This was bad. This was very, very bad.

"Dobroye utro, devushka," greeted the towering Colonel Sergei Vladmir, the very same one she barely escaped from while in NEST. The very same one they said would kill her if he found out about her. "I am Sergei Vladmir, pleased to make your acquaintance. I have a few questions I'd like to ask you...if you could spare me some time?"

The smile that spread across his scarred face was supposed to be friendly and non-threatening, but Claire could feel the wickedness behind it.

She was trapped. She was captured. And this time Wesker wasn't around to save her...

[thecharlester77]

Reunion - RC Fan Short

Another RC AU short, this time from a couple of days after the RC Subject dies. He shows up at his sister’s door for the first time in ten years. (More sadness oof).

Reunion – RC Short

 He knocked on the door, hoping that he’d got the right address.

A few moments later, he heard footsteps.

“Who the heck is at the door at this hour?” he heard his sister exclaim grumpily.

“…Rick?”

His sister stared back at him in disbelief.

“I…came back,” he said slowly.

“Gosh, bro, you look terrible. Are you okay?”

“N-no,” he mumbled, looking at the floor as he felt his eyes well with tears.

“Come in – I’ll make us some coffee,” she said quickly, pulling him inside.

He nodded slightly before covering his face with his hands.

“What the heck happened to you?” she asked sympathetically, “You disappear for ten years, and then turn up on my door step and burst into tears!”

“My d-daughter just died,” he choked out.

“Rick, Evie died years ago,” she said worriedly – had he lost his mind?

“N-no…My o-other daughter.”

“What other daughter?”

He tried to reply but the lump in his throat prevented him from speaking. Only a sob answered.

“Sit down,” Ava led him over to the sofa, “I’ll make some coffee and then we can talk. Okay?”

“O-okay.”

 A few moments later, Ava sat down beside her brother, who seemed to have calmed down a little. She placed the cup of coffee in his hand gently.

“Drink,” she ordered gently, “It’ll make you feel better.”

“T-thank you,” he muttered, taking a sip.

“Who’s this other daughter?” Ava asked.

“I took Evie to the middle of nowhere to save her,” he started, “By the illegal means of creating a donor body. That’s why I disappeared. But then the donor body woke up, and she was a fully conscious child.”

“So she’s alive?”

“She w-was…” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to regain his composure.

“S-she woke up, and so I couldn’t continue my experiment. I then had two daughters and I l-loved them both. But now they’re both gone…”

“When…when did she die?” Ava asked gently.

“Two days ago,” he replied quietly, fresh tears spilling from his eyes. He clapped a hand to his mouth, muffling a sob.

“Aw, Rick…”

She reached over and removed the cup of coffee from his trembling hand.

“I’m f-fine,” he lied, trying to supress another sob.

“No you’re not,” Ava chuckled lightly.

She shuffled closer, and then wrapped her arms around him. She rocked him gently back and forth as he sobbed.

Slowly, he reached out and hugged her back.

“Poor little bro,” she sighed, stroking his head gently, “It’ll be okay.”

“I’m s-sorry, Av,” he mumbled between sobs, “I’ve just sh-shown up on your doorstep, and I’m a total m-mess.”

“You got that right, bro,” she smirked, hugging him closer, “But there’s no need to apologise! It’s what families do.”

“Thanks, Ava,” he smiled a broken smile, gently breaking away from their embrace to wipe his tears away, “I’m okay now…I will be.”

He went to stand, but Ava pulled him back down.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Um…Home?”

“Oh, heck no, Rick. You do NOT just disappear for ten years, and then show up sobbing at my door, only to go home. You’re staying so I can keep an eye on you!”

“What..?”

“Let me look after you,” she looked at her brother with a pleading look, “You’ve been through a lot.”

“Okay,” he sighed, “My suitcase is in the car…I’ll go get it.”

“And you come straight back!”

“Right!”

 Ava sighed heavily, and took a sip of her coffee.

“Poor guy,” she mumbled.

She looked up and was startled to see her daughter, Irene, stood in front of her.

“When did you get out of bed, misses?”

“About twenty minutes ago,” she replied, “I heard the door, and talking. And then crying…who is that guy?”

“He’s my brother, who I haven’t seen for ten years,” Ava sighed.

“Is he…okay?”

“No, I don’t think so. His daughter just died,” she said, shaking her head sympathetically.

“Oh…That’s sad.”

“Yeah…You should be in bed!”

“But I wanna meet my uncle!”

“In the morning, Irene. He’s not in the best state right now anyway. I’ll introduce you and Max to him tomorrow.”

“But-”

“No. Bed, now.”

“Fine,” Irene sighed, “Good night, Mom.”

“Night, darling!”

Ava turned to the front door.

“What is taking him so long?” she muttered, placing her cup of coffee down and getting up.

“Rick?” she called, opening the front door.

“I’m c-coming!” he called back, standing by the trunk of his car.

“What’s taking you so long?!”

She hurried down the garden path and on to the street, until she was standing beside her brother.

“I s-said I was coming,” he mumbled, leaning into the car and grabbing his suitcase.

“You’re shaking,” Ava muttered, shaking her head at him.

“I’m cold,” he said, closing the boot of the car.

“Cold and sad?” she reached up and gently pulled his chin to face her. His cheeks were wet with tears.

“I’m fine,” he protested, wiping them away quickly, “Help me with this suitcase, Av? It’s heavy.”

 “What the heck did you put in here?” she grunted with effort, taking one of the handles.

“As much as I could,” he replied, “I didn’t plan on staying – I was going to go home.”

“This is your home now,” Ava insisted, dropping the suitcase on the sofa.

“…Thanks, sis.”

“You’re welcome, bro. Come here,” she pulled him into a hug, which he immediately returned, “You’re going to be okay.”

[motheriing]

ஐ

fantasy related au // always accepting // @battlexhardened

11. interview with a vampire

Her smile, tipped with sharp canines, was an attempt at showing genuine interest in why the young brunette wished to speak with her. Surely she worried for the unmarked flesh of her beautiful neck, but she came nonetheless to stand in front of the American vampire that had watched the states crumble into war when she’d been near the interviewer’s age.

❝ I’m impressed that you actually kept to our appointment, ❞ Lisa moved with a predatory elegance that a dark furred big cat of the Indian world walked proudly with, ❝ Most would worry that their walking in to meet Brad Pitt and his character’s wailing. Don’t expect any of that tearful horse shit from me -- I adore being what I am, ❞ hand held out politely to offer the youthful mortal the freedom to sit where ever she wished in the parlor of a home that held a welcoming aura, a remnant of the vampire’s raising as a proper southern woman to always be kind and warm to those in her home, ❝ Please sit. I’ve made a platter of finger foods should you get hungry. ❞

Just then a human child came running in, chest beating heavily and breathing labored as sweat glittered on his forehead and neck. Healthy as a horse and unmarked of vampire bites, he reached forward and plucked a tiny peanut butter sandwich from the platter and looked to the human girl then to Lisa.

❝ Go on, get you and your sister a few things on a plate. There’s RCs in the fridge,❞ Lisa’s smile was genuine as the boy nodded and scurried off to the kitchen to rummage around,  ❝ My children, Finch and Eloise, may come in and out. Does it surprise you a vampire adopting and loving human children as if they were her own?❞

[thecluelessdoctor]

itsa me, ur irl friend.

I ahev a hypothetical question Abt Effie because I wuv her. I'm asking paper bag the same thing.

So let's say Effie was apart of the SAS AU. How would she react to the info, how would she cope, etc

I must know for science

*GASP* YOU AGAIN!!

And to answer lmao

Effie would probably be similar to Howdy, going into denial. All her hard work having never ACTUALLY happened?? Nahhhhhh..

But after time.. the clock kept ticking, and she finally accepted it. her coping habits aren't the best, but they aren't the worst either. She tends to let off steam by beating up something, normally trees, or yelling at the sky at the top of her lungs.

She would probably try to help calm everyone down with Poppy, and only really show her real emotions around Poppy.. because even though their love might not have been real, it felt really real to both of them.

She would probably often try to stop Howdy from drinking, or at least drinking himself silly, but often times she fails and ends up taking care of him.

[78682homes]

Gaëtan Robail quitte le PSG pour signer au RC Lens, c’est officiel ! 78682 homes

http://www.78682homes.com/gaetan-robail-quitte-le-psg-pour-signer-au-rc-lens-cest-officiel

Gaëtan Robail quitte le PSG pour signer au RC Lens, c’est officiel !

Comme évoqué dans la presse récemment, Gaëtan Robail, milieu offensif de 25 ans, est transféré par le Paris Saint-Germain vers le RC Lens en Ligue 2. 🚨 Welcome back @GaetRobail#LensoisPourToujours #Robail #mercato #rclens pic.twitter.com/3BC7kW8M0Y — Racing club de Lens (@RCLens) June 19, 2019 Le joueur arrivé en 2016 au sein de la réserve parisienne a […]

homms2013

#ParisSaint-GermainFC

[universallyladybear]

Gala est un magazine français du domaine de la presse people édité par prisma media faisant partie du groupe allemand gruner +…

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Gala Magazine En Francais Gala est un magazine français du domaine de la presse people édité par prisma media faisant partie du groupe allemand gruner +...

[ourshycollectiontidalwaveme-blog]

Acronis True Image 2018 22.zero Construct 9660 Inclus Nouveau Patch (Software)

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[rainythefox]

Nightfall (CH.12)

Synopsis: Pre-Resident Evil 1, slight-AU/Canon Divergence. Claire Redfield comes home to visit her  brother Chris for the holidays but gets caught up in a dangerous game of  cat and mouse with Albert Wesker, the Captain of STARS, after stumbling  upon dark secrets. She can’t call the law; Wesker is the law, and she  can’t tell Chris. She is trapped…Claire/Wesker & Slight  Chris/Jill. Rated M for eventual smut, language, violence, adult content.

AO3 Link

Chapter 12: Complicit

Claire couldn’t believe this was happening. After two days of “late night babysitting” preparing for this…mission, she was about to actually undergo it. She was kinda freaking out deep down, but her Redfield nerve and composure never broke a sweat on the outside.

She lingered, eyes firmly set on the double glass doors and the welcoming signs, faint traces of snow dancing around her. Would she be able to do this?

“Losing your nerve already? Pity. Thought you redheads had more spunk than this...”

Wesker’s velvety voice crept through the tiny headphone hidden in her right ear. It wasn’t the only thing he attached to her. There was a video camera, the smallest and most advanced she had ever seen, and some kind of tracker, like he needed another way to keep her under his thumb. All to “help” her during this important task at hand that he so generously gave to her. And by generously, there were implications if she didn’t go through with this, that Chris would have a bad “accident”.

“The only nerve I’m about to lose is my last one with you,” she muttered, careful to not talk too loud as a few people slipped by her to enter the building, eager to get out of the dark evening's cold. “I’m ready when you are.”

Wesker’s low laugh through the earpiece made her shiver more than the icy wind blowing the snowflakes around. “I’m always ready, Claire. You should know that by now.”

“Whatever.” Ignoring the dark implications behind his words.

“I have the utmost faith in you, my dear. Do not disappoint me. You know the consequences.”

The younger Redfield took a deep breath. This was it. She would do this…she had to, for Chris.

She headed up the concrete steps and entered Raccoon University, bypassing the positive and welcoming signs advertising “Exclusive Open House for Umbrella’s Future Leaders!”

Claire immediately took notice of all the college students her age and even some older people here. The large, fancy lobby was decorated up for the occasion. There were balloons, finger foods and drinks, more signs and several tables for information on Umbrella programs, internships, scholarships, and grants. Distracted by all the dress up and people, Claire paused to get her bearings, only for someone to bump into her.

“Oh…sorry,” a girl around her age mumbled, wearing a green jacket and looking of Japanese descent. She smiled apologetically and readjusted her backpack strap. Claire noticed right away she seemed a little spacey, but didn’t think much on it.

“All good,” she replied and allowed the girl to pass. Claire watched her walk over to the corner by some of the many leather lounge chairs and tables, sitting with a girl in a yellow hoodie with a long braid and glasses.

“Hello everyone, and welcome to Umbrella’s Open House!” The voice immediately drew Claire’s attention and she turned towards the front desk of the lobby, where three men stood in suits. She immediately recognized them from the research and planning she had gone through for the past two days in order to do this assignment. The man speaking was Greg Mueller, a professor here at the university that also worked for Umbrella. On his right stood another professor and Umbrella researcher, Simon Lowery. The man on the left was well-known Umbrella researcher and medical doctor, Nathanial Bard.

“We hope you are enjoying the delicious food and beverages catered to us by our local favorite restaurant, Grill 13,” Mueller continued. “And of course, staying warm from good ‘ol RC snow. Now, before we begin with tonight’s exciting tour of our historical university, introductions are in order! I’m Dr. Greg Mueller, head of the Research and Lab department of the University and I teach several courses. With me is my colleague and good friend, Dr. Simon Lowery. He’s essential to my team here and makes sure that everything runs smoothly and you have him to thank for some amazing programs to help you on your journey to a brighter future here. Last, but certainly not least, our special guest tonight is the revered Dr. Nathanial Bard of Spencer Memorial Hospital, whose achievements are nothing short of ground-breaking, and he will help you get started on which of Umbrella’s programs will serve you best. I’m going to hand the mic to Simon now.”

Lowery looked to be the younger of the three and wasn’t shy when he took the mic from his colleague. “Thanks Greg. Hello everyone! You know, this is the third year Greg and I have helmed this open house in search of bright pupils with a future at Umbrella Corporation. We have fun every year, and it’s always great meeting every single one of you. Now take your time, visit, mingle, get to know each other, make yourself at home and help yourselves to all this delicious food - I personally recommend the smoked sausages, they’re my favorite! - and please check out each booth we have set up for more information on what programs Umbrella has to offer for you, and we will go into depth later on after the tour. Dr. Bard, would you like to say anything?”

“Of course,” he said and snatched the mic with a wide, fake grin. “There’s something for everyone here. You absolutely will not leave empty handed. Umbrella cares about each and every one of your futures, and we are here to help. It’s my personal mission to make sure every individual will get the help and information they need to ensure a prosperous future. You have my word! Welcome to Umbrella’s open house!”

The three men put up the microphone and split up to join the chatting groups of visitors. Claire kept her cool, getting herself a cup of spiced cider and checking out the information booths just like everyone else.

She could certainly understand why Wesker was using her in this infiltration. There was no doubt she blended right in with the crowd of college ready young adults. She could tell by overhearing bits of conversations that many were already students here at the university while others were newcomers.

The hardest part was waiting. She couldn't get to the next step of the plan if they didn’t go on the tour around the university. So the younger Redfield put on a charming smile and worked the crowd, pretending to be one of them, fishing for information as she waited.

"Such a charmer you are, dear heart. But be careful of whom you charm. Some snakes are immune to the flute."

"Like you?" Claire whispered.

"I'm impervious to the charms of nearly everyone. Most people are just so predictable and boring. Thankfully, you are not ‘most people’...”

Is he really flirting with me over the radio or am I just hearing things? Claire sighed. As if she didn’t have enough on her plate at the moment!

“Oh! Tell her to sneak some shrimp into Nate’s food. I wanna see the dickhole swell up like a balloon and choke.”

She stood corrected, instantly, after William talked smack on the other side. But his big mouth didn’t get to say anything else before a loud yelp rang her eardrum and all became quiet again.

Claire shook her head, but soon a tall figure slipped around from behind her and greeted her with a smile that was more lecherous than cordial.

“Good evening! Dr. Nathanial Bard, how are you, Miss?”

He extended his hand. Claire panicked for a moment because she never came up with a fake identity even after Wesker’s insistence upon it. He had said the chances of her being approached were slim, but not impossible.

“Do not give him your real name. You’ll want to drop conversation with him as quickly and as inconspicuously as possible.”

As Bard frowned, the name finally hit her and Claire eased a fake smile that looked natural. “Elza. Elza Walker. Nice to meet you, Dr. Bard.” She took his hand and shook it, internally gagging.

His eyebrows rose high. “That is such a pretty and unique name. You from Raccoon City?”

“No, sir. In town visiting family. I was thinking about transferring to Raccoon University and a friend told me about the open house. Figured I’d give it a try and see.”

She could feel his eyes skim over her, not near as clandestine as Wesker was, and, dare she admit, not near as tantalizing as him either. Claire squeezed the cup of hot spiced cider in her hand, restraining herself from splashing it in his face.

Bard’s smile widened. “Well, I think you’re in luck, my dear!”

The younger Redfield didn’t realize how much she secretly liked Wesker’s pet names for her until it came from someone else’s tongue. She internally shook her head. Now was not the time to start having the warm fuzzies for that asshole. Claire could hardly believe she was even thinking in this direction. Had to be the stress of going undercover while quite literally having Wesker breathe down her neck...yes, that was it. It had to be.

Get it together!

“There’s a program for everyone! Umbrella Corporation wants you to succeed! Grants, scholarships! Umbrella will even pay for everything for you to transfer. There is no shortage of bursaries here. What kind of field are you looking to get into?”

Bard leaned in closer, suave and friendly. It would’ve fooled anyone else, but not Claire. This man was digging for something. She could only hope that he was being a lecher and wasn’t seeing through to her true motives.

“You’re stalling. Get out of there.”

Wesker sounded annoyed, but she couldn’t determine why. It wasn’t as though she had messed up the mission...yet.

“You know, I’m still on the fence,” Claire made up, slowly backing away.

Bard chuckled. “One of those, huh? No worries. When I was your age, I didn’t have a clue either. But do not fret, Miss Walker, my colleagues and I are here to help. There’s no need to decide right now. After the tour, we can sit down and talk it over. We can still find something right for you even if you haven’t decided on a major.”

“Oh, the tour...right,” Claire faked ditzyness. “I better go to the little girl’s room before it starts!”

She beelined for the restrooms just to the side of the information center in the lobby, even as the doctor told her directions. She sat her cup down on a table as she passed by, glancing over her shoulder. She spotted Dr. Bard motioning her way to the younger Dr. Lowery, the two men speaking quietly.

There were a few other girls in the restroom. One student flushed a toilet and came out, washing her hands and leaving quietly. A couple fixed their makeup while gossiping. Since Claire didn’t need to go, and wasn’t about to while Wesker was able to see everything, she pretended to check her face over too. She fluffed her hair, left down in long waves for the occasion.

“Worried about looking good enough for me, Claire? Don’t be. You still have work to do, and it doesn’t matter to me what your hair looks like while doing it. Just do it.” Wesker mocked. The biting humor in his admonishment was hard to miss.

“Geez, you really need to be nicer if you want to get laid, buddy!” William muttered in the distance. “OW! Fuck…”

Despite the wheeze of pain and cursing, distant chuckling sieved through the earbud. But Claire ignored it, instead nearly bristling and turned on the tap to wash her hands as the girls left back out to the lobby.

“I am doing it, asshole. Even with lecherous old men hitting on me, which wasn’t a part of the plan, by the way! No need to be so pushy. If you want me to go under cover here and make it believable, then let me handle it. It’ll get done, stop riding my ass!”

There was a moment of silence before William snorted loudly in the back, laughing. “That’s what she said!” He cackled loudly in amusement. “Man, I like her more and more every day...the girl has balls.”

Wesker's laughter was quieter, colder. “If you insist, dear heart. I’m just offering my humble assistance to make things go over smoothly. Just get the job done and we’re fine.”

Humble, my ass! Claire thought sourly.

The Redfield sister heard them announcing the tour. She quickly dried her hands and exited the restroom, melding herself into the back of the group. This would be the slowest process, she knew, but kept her wits about her even as she only half-listened to the doctors as they rattled off trivia and history over the university.

They took the upper floors first, pointing out classrooms that covered the liberal arts and the professors who taught them. Dr. Mueller told them the history of the iconic bell tower.

“Jesus, Greg, you’re putting me to sleep over here, put some life into it!” William huffed. “You seriously make me want to shoot myself.”

At least Lowery had a bit more spunk and spirit as he raved about the college’s sports teams, particularly the football team, the Raccoon Sharks. Which Claire never understood why they chose “sharks” and not, well, “raccoons” for obvious reasons. But hey, at least the sharks were colored up like raccoons.

They returned to the first floor and continued the tour. There was the fancy cafeteria, the huge library, and more classrooms. The doctors talked about more of the programs and classes, semester activities, and the following herd asked questions in return.

They left the main establishment to take a walkway to a neighboring building. It was still lightly snowing, but the walkway was covered. It was also illuminated by soft, yellow lights. Claire could hear the Circular River rushing nearby, as the institution was built along its path.

This was the building she had been waiting on. It was essentially its own facility, running classrooms, laboratories, and other departments, doubling as a school and a research center for Umbrella.

Claire used to not think anything of it, even admired how much Umbrella helped out the city between their programs at the university and hospitals, as well as their charities and large scale employment. Now, the deeper she went down this rabbit hole being dragged by Wesker’s leash, she started to wonder what was really going on.

Men like Albert Wesker, William Birkin, and Sergei Vladimir were not the type to work for “good guys”. Even the three doctors Mueller, Lowery, and Bard were all hiding something, that much was certainly clear.

So, what was Umbrella hiding? What were they hiding that required the Captain of the elite S.T.A.R.S. force and the Police Chief to control the city? That required them to murder people once they knew too much? And what about that top-secret underground Umbrella facility that William reigned over?

Claire had a flashback of Wesker pulling the trigger on Finley’s head, the blood spraying across fresh snow; how his fate was completely covered up with no one to question or oppose it. She recalled watching the news just the other day reporting on how his body was discovered and ruled a suicide in his car.

What happened to Mr. Finley back there will never be brought to light. He died in a car crash, you see. Committed suicide, or simply disappeared. His fate is whatever I decide to make it. You and your brother are no different, same with all the others who thought they could expose me. Wesker’s voice echoed in the back of her head from that fateful day.

Maybe Umbrella were still the good guys. Maybe Wesker, Irons, William, and Sergei were the infestation of corruption, growing and taking control, like weeds strangling a fruit tree from its roots. Yeah, surely that was it.

But deep down, she didn’t believe herself.

Once they were inside Dr. Mueller’s state-of-the-art laboratory that connected to a classroom laboratory through two automatic sliding doors, the professor slash researcher began boasting with a lot more pride and spirit than his lecture on the university’s trivia earlier. He showed off some equipment in his place between Lowery and Bard.

Again, Claire only half-listened, her eyes scanning the area for her objective.

“In short, there is no other research department like this in the country. My laboratory is vital to Umbrella’s key studies on disease prevention and cures.”

“C’mon Greg, you’re a glorified babysitter with a sandbox! Mine’s way better!” William hollered, sounding like his mouth was full. Coffee break between two sessions of unethical lab work, she supposed. Just another day at the office, between blackmailing and killing people. Nothing to write home about.

Wesker sighed. “If you wish to do a dick measuring contest with someone, at least choose some actual competition.”

“My dick’s bigger than all three of theirs. I got pics to prove it. Don’t ask. I have my sources. Courtesy from their parties with the senator. I will nail those dick pics to their corpses when we’re done with them too.”

And yet I wondered how these two are best friends…silly me.

“Claire, as soon as they leave the laboratory, the power failure will engage. Be ready. The laboratory’s backup power will switch on, but the security systems will remain down.”

“Got it.”

Still, William’s words hung her up. There was nothing stated in all the planning that anyone would be killed...but what if she was setting it up for these three men to die? No, she specifically remembered Wesker wanting to gain control over them. They were useless to him dead. But that didn’t mean their value to him didn’t have an expiration date…

Claire shook out the thoughts and trailed after the rest of the group once more. The double doors to the neighboring classroom laboratory slid open and the mass of people passed through, the doctors taking turns to address their followers. Some of the crowd whispered amongst themselves, but they were mostly quiet.

As the last few went through the doorway, Claire purposely slowed herself down to where the door slid shut inches from her. The power instantly went out. Total darkness and stillness swallowed her for only a moment before the laboratory’s backup power switched on. But just as planned, the double doors were locked, glowing red above.

She barely heard the mumblings of surprise on the other side before turning and speeding towards the main computer in the back, located near a single locked electronic door with a sign that stated, “Authorized personnel only!”

Claire reached inside her parka pocket and pulled out the computer disk. The same, unmarked one she got the other day when Wesker was using her to fetch from his informants. She pushed it into the drive, fingers itching to get this over with.

“You have just under four minutes, Miss Redfield. Don’t drop the ball now.”

She ignored him and typed away, putting in the passwords and entries she had memorized from the planning process of this infiltration.

The spyware program uploaded onto the mainframe in a timely fashion. What took a bit longer was it copying information back onto the disk, whatever that was. While it processed, the younger Redfield moved to a nearby set of drawers.

“You sure it’s the bottom one?”

“That is what my source informed me.”

“They better be right.”

Claire retrieved her lockpick from her pants pocket, the one gifted to her from Jill, the same one she used to break into Wesker’s house. She carefully worked the lock, listening, feeling, remaining focused. It finally gave and she pulled the drawer open. Inside was what she was looking for.

"Looks like the "master of unlocking" taught you well. Shocker. Guess you stumbling into my affairs paid off in the end, in more than one way... "

The sealed yellow envelope inside looked harmless enough. But the label printed on it in red ink chilled her to the bone. Requested research for THANATOS PROJECT.

The name sounded ominous to her, and she couldn’t help the shiver running down her spine. She had a bad feeling about this.

Claire retrieved it from the drawer, looking it over. It was heavy, full of papers and what felt like maybe a USB drive. There was a white sticker in the bottom right hand corner that read, “Paid in full. - AR.”

Those initials had to be Aaron Roth. If only Wesker wasn’t spying on her and she had the time...she would’ve ripped into the envelope to see what they were all hiding.

She slid the drawer shut and returned to the computer. The disk was ready to be removed. She took it back and returned it to her pocket. Taking a step back, she looked it over once more. Everything was in place and didn’t look disturbed.

“Finished in a timely fashion. I’m impressed. You’re certainly talented in more ways than one. I’m almost tempted to hire you again, dear heart. I’m sure I could find some use for you...”

“You didn’t hire me, asshole, you blackmailed me.”

“Semantics. What matters is a satisfying outcome...wouldn’t you agree?” Wesker purred in her ear.

Oh God. Was it just her or was there a double entendre somewhere in there? Sweat broke out on Claire’s forehead even though she had managed to keep her cool until now, but Wesker making ambiguous remarks was getting to her. Nervously (and not just a little bit annoyed with herself), she discreetly wiped her sweaty bangs from her forehead.

Let’s get this over with, she admonished herself. The sooner her dealings with the corrupt STARS Captain were over, the better.

The college student stuffed the envelope inside her jacket and under her arm since it was too big to put in a pocket. She hurried over to the double doors, knowing time was almost up. If it all went according to plan, the doctors and their party would still be in the dark locked in the next room. The backup power in this area would be cut off and the doors would open just long enough to allow her back with the others before all power returned.

When the lights went out, Claire barely heard the doors skim apart, courtesy of whoever was controlling the university’s power system. She stepped over the threshold into the classroom, moving further in, careful not to run into anything. This particular laboratory for regular classes had large windows on the opposite side, but it was so dark outside, it barely helped light anything.

But soon it didn’t matter. The power returned in an instant, back to normal, as though it had never been touched. Claire wasn’t far from the group and quietly joined them as everyone got their bearings, blinking to adjust to the sudden bright lights. Startled voices talked over each other.

“Everyone, everyone, settle down. Everything is fine!” Mueller announced. “Just a small power failure. Let’s return to the lobby and I will have someone look into it!”

Relieved, Claire followed along as Mueller and Bard escorted everyone out of the classroom while Lowery remained behind by the door checking on the visitors. That was normal and understandable enough until his brown eyes pierced her. Watchful. Suspicious. She kept her composure, offering him an innocent smile as she slipped by him and out the door. He didn’t say anything, but Claire felt his eyes on her back until she caught up with the others, heart slightly racing.

Surely, he wasn’t onto her. There could be no way.

"Think he's onto me," Claire whispered as voices boomed through the massive hallways, the herd migrating back to the lobby.

"Irrelevant," Wesker answered. "As soon as you return to the lobby, make your leave. Without notice, preferably."

"Don't worry, Claire. Lowery's a nerdy bag of stress and paranoia. Nothing to fear there," William added.

"Like you?" Wesker mocked.

"You know, I’m half-tempted to empty one of my petri dishes into your coffee next time you’re not looking. Don’t push your luck, jerk. Annette always says you wouldn’t like me angry. And you know how Anne’s always right. Even she says so!"

Amused chuckling was all he got as a reply from Wesker.

Claire rolled her eyes at their continuous banter. God, she swore these two were like old marrieds.

Once they all filed into the lobby, most visitors either took a seat or went and got more food. She soon noticed a couple heading for the front doors, sliding on their coats, and took advantage, inconspicuously joining them.

"Hold on, please, you three," Bard hollered, making the trio pause and look. "Before you leave, let us make sure everyone is accounted for from the power outage. A small safety regulation we must abide by."

Claire inwardly groaned and moved away from the doors with the others. Bard and Mueller finished speaking together in a hushed huddle and went opposite ways.

"What are you doing?" Wesker asked.

"You said to leave without being noticed. Did you not hear him?"

"Then find another way out. Do it quickly."

Claire ground her jaw but didn't answer. She looked around, thinking of a way she could escape. More university workers were showing up now from other hallways, probably disturbed by the power failure. Lowery had yet to return.

She watched Dr. Bard set a plate of food down on an empty table and left it to go introduce himself to another pretty face, using the same charm he had used on her.

Apparently, the prick was only interested in helping students he found attractive. The girl obviously looked uncomfortable but smiled to be nice, and that didn't sit well with her one bit.

But since kicking him where it counted would cause a scene, the younger Redfield soon found herself scheming up something better.

Casually, she went over to the buffet of refreshments, picking up a plate and grabbing a few random foods. She sat down at a table close to Bard's plate, eyes scanning. People were talking or reading while they ate. She de-shelled one cold shrimp and broke it up into chunks.

She had only a tiny window of opportunity here, and it all determined on the selections of food on his plate. Pulse racing but outwardly composed, she discreetly took a stroll over to his plate. From afar she analyzed what was on it, and what would best conceal her ticket to freedom.

“HOLY SHIT, SHE’S GONNA DO IT! I LOVE THIS GIRL!” William squealed in delight.

She winced, retracting the urge to rub her eardrum. Her deft hands quickly stuffed the pieces of shrimp into a club sandwich triangle. It was pressed back into place with the toothpick and then she was off, glancing around to make sure she hadn’t been caught. Everything went on as normal. Claire got some more spiced cider and returned to her seat to wait.

“Don’t tell Anne, but If I wasn’t already married...” William softly laughed in her ear. She could tell he was trying to whisper, but the eccentric, mad scientist didn’t realize he was louder than he thought. “She’s a keeper, Al. Don’t screw this up!”

Screw what up? Keep me...for what exactly? Stop giving him any ideas, William! God, this is really getting out of hand...

Claire facepalmed as she started to feel hot under her collar and blamed the thrill of committing a heist under everybody’s noses for it.

The Redfield sister didn’t have much time to dwell on it before she spotted Dr. Lowery emerging into the lobby. She instinctively made herself smaller as he marched across the room, going straight to Dr. Mueller.

He pulled the older man aside, whispering urgently. Claire started sweating in serious now. Especially when their eyes scanned the full lobby until Lowery pointed her out.

“Shit,” she hissed under her breath. She pretended not to notice them, her nerves beginning to rattle a little. She reluctantly called for help. “Wesker…”

“What is it?” Claire wasn’t sure if it was just her hearing things, but he actually sounded a little concerned.

And then she was saved. Not by the bell but by commotion. People shouted and pointed, some moving in closer to watch or help as an individual choked. Dr. Bard was turning red, red like the shellfish he had just unknowingly consumed. Mueller raced across the lobby for him, Lowery right behind him after giving her one glance.

Claire took her chance. She sprinted for the doors and was out, taking the concrete steps two at a time and bolting across the front courtyard through the snow flurries with only the college ground lights to guide her.

When she made it through the opened gates and took a sharp turn on the sidewalk, she collided straight into another person and nearly lost her footing. She dropped the enveloped stashed inside her coat.

“Sorry, Miss. I should’ve been watching where I was going,” the young man said with a charming smile, stooping to pick up the envelope for her.

He slightly flinched when he picked it up and noticed the label, as though he recognized it. But it was gone in an instant and he presented it to her with a warm smile and twinkling green eyes.

“What the hell is he doing there?!” William demanded.

Wesker ignored him and promptly spoke to Claire. “Take it and leave, do not engage in conversation with him, Claire. That is an order.”

“Leave?! This may be our only opportunity to kill the bastard!”

“Are you okay, Miss? Do you need help?” the man asked.

She silently obeyed Wesker, snatching the yellow envelope back and hurrying past him. The redhead didn’t look over her shoulder, but she could feel the man watching her until she turned down the next block.

Panting, the icy wind cutting her throat, she finally slowed to a walk, heading for her next destination. Traffic rolled by her, beams of headlights stretching down the streets and making the falling snowflakes sparkle. There weren’t many other pedestrians out walking the streets, but she did spot many inside buildings shopping or having a coffee.

“Who was that?” she asked.

“Aaron Roth,” Wesker answered nonchalantly. “He’s not someone you should involve yourself with.”

“Oh, but I should involve myself with you?”

Wesker chuckled mockingly. “Wishful thinking, Claire? I’m flattered. Then again, I’ve been known to have that effect on redheads...must be genetic.”

Claire bit her tongue. She pulled her parka hood over her head, bundling up from the cold. After passing by the empty elementary school, she cut across the parking lot to the bus barn next door.

Her ride would arrive here to pick her up. Unfortunately, Claire wouldn’t be going home just yet. She had to meet Wesker in person first. She just hoped that Chris wasn’t getting worried...or worse, suspicious.

The bus barn was a large depot and mechanic shop for all the schools’ buses. Rows and rows of parked long, yellow buses slept quietly. It was dreary and quiet, with snow falling lightly all around. A person could easily get spooked by themselves here, as though they were trapped amongst sleeping giants.

“There’s been a change in plans,” Wesker announced. “My main liaison will not be picking you up. Instead the collaborator that worked the power outages at the university will. He should be there shortly.”

“Okay,” Claire mumbled through chattering teeth.

“I’m going to sign off for now, dear heart. Well done. See you soon.”

She was relieved for the silence. Claire waited with her hands in her pockets, back against a cold bus, shivering, watching the snowflakes swirl around. The lights of Raccoon City at night were beautiful to look at, some of the skyscrapers in the distance were lit up in Christmas colors. The younger Redfield was so lost in observing the serene scenery around her that she did not hear the pair of feet that had slowly walked closer to her.

"Found you!"

The voice startled her and she pushed away from the bus, whirling to confront them. Shocked, she didn't say anything as Lowery cautiously approached, encased in shadow from a looming bus nearby, and sounding a little out of breath.

"The hell?" Claire hissed. "What do you want?" She reached for her knife in her pocket.

As Lowery stepped into the light, speckles of snow in his brown hair, she noticed the gun pointed at her chest.

“Lucky shot!” Chris whined.

Jill laughed, moving around the pool table to take her next move. “Suck it up, buttercup! You’re about to lose to a girl!”

“It’s these beers. They threw me off my groove.”

Jack’s Bar was crowded tonight. The bar was full and so were most of the tables. Music played on the radio, but it could barely be heard from all the talking and laughter bouncing around. The bar-and-grill was decorated up with Christmas decor and lights, looking quite festive and bright.

His partner made the winning shot that cost him this game of pool. She won the last time they were here too.

“Whoo!” Jill exclaimed, arms shooting in the air and grinning at him. “You know what that means, partner!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Chris grumbled, fishing for his wallet. He looked around him and then spotted the familiar face he was seeking. “Hey, Cindy! C’mere!”

The favorite waitress of J’s came over, an empty tray under her arm. The young, pretty blonde smiled and giggled. “Let me guess, lose again, Chris?”

“Hey, I’ve won before, okay?!”

“A Mai Tai then?”

“Yeah,” Chris answered, giving her a $10 bill. “Here’s for another plus tip...because I know Miss Sharpshooter here’s gonna want seconds.”

“Why wouldn’t I when your pouty ass is buying?” Jill snickered.

They made faces at each other, and then Chris spotted the rest of their party arriving. “Oh, bring the drinks to our usual table, the guys are finally here.”

Cindy nodded. “Will do. You want your usual?”

“Yeah, add it to my tab.”

Chris and Jill joined the others at their usual table. The STARS teams came here often to wind down and have fun, different mixes of teammates each time from differing schedules. Hell, even the Captains came once in a while.

Wesker was a pro at pool, too. And Jill had been on his team a few times. She said he taught her tricks...something about math and trajectory or some shit. Who does that? Didn’t people just point and shoot at the balls with their cue sticks?

The gang tonight consisted of Chris, Jill, Barry, Joseph, Forest, and Richard. Tagging along with Barry was Robert Kendo, which wasn’t uncommon. They ordered their food and drinks, a perfect view of the hockey game playing on the hanging box TV. While waiting, the group of friends and colleagues joked and small-talked.

“So, Kendo, how’s that new assault shotgun model coming along?” Richard asked.

Kendo cracked a grin as he took a swig of beer. “You ask me that every damn time you see me, Rich. Look, I’ll personally call ya when I make a breakthrough, alright?”

“You better! I’m excited!”

“Coulda fooled me!”

Cindy and her friend and co-worker soon brought their food and drinks. Chris could never remember the young lad’s name...Bill? No...Will. It made him think of William Birkin again...the mysterious man that Claire was babysitting for. The past couple of nights she had stayed out late babysitting, and it seemed as though tonight would be the same. He just hoped that’s what she was really doing…

“Cindy, babe, could you please turn the station? I cannot stand these damn Christmas tunes anymore!” Forest complained.

“Aw, c’mon, Forest. Get into the holiday spirit!” Cindy exclaimed. “Don’t be a grinch!”

“Don’t insult the Grinch like that,” Joseph joked.

Cindy gave him a look. “Don’t be a meanie, Joe.”

“Eh, he’s just jealous of my hair, Cin. That’s why he fucking hides his under that stupid bandana all the time.”

“You wish.”

Cindy casually shook her head, used to their antics, and left them to their meals. The gang discussed their plans for the upcoming holiday, after work of course. Most of the STARS team had family here to celebrate with. If Chris remembered correctly, only he (other than Claire), Jill, and Captain Wesker didn’t have any family.

Soon, they got on the topic of gifts.

“I finally found Claire’s Christmas gift. She’s gonna love it. I picked it up the other day. She’ll never find it!”

Jill laughed beside him. “That’s because it’s at my house!”

“Your house is the safest place! She’s a sneaky little brat and will find it!”

“Speaking of which,” Barry interrupted, dipping a couple fries into his ketchup. “I figured you wouldn’t be coming tonight because Claire’s in town. She make you come out?”

“Probably,” Richard snorted. “I’d need a break from him too.”

“Nah, she’s been babysitting for someone. Last few days she’s had to babysit well into the night.”

Joseph snickered. “That’s what I’d say too if I was messing around with a guy I didn’t want my big brother to know about.”

Chris shot his colleague a glare that almost dropped him dead. Joseph stuffed his mouth with a big bite of hamburger.

Kendo cleared his throat, pushing his empty beer bottle up to the middle of the table. "Oh! That reminds me, Chris. Did Claire get into trouble?”

“Huh? No, why?”

“I was on the other side of town yesterday evening picking up Emma’s medicine and I saw her with the Captain. He opened his car door for her and she got in.”

“Which Captain? Enrico? Or Wesker?” Richard asked curiously.

“Yeah, cuz that determines how much trouble she must’ve been in,” Forest teased.

Kendo half-rolled his eyes, sighing. “THE Captain, ya idiots. Wesker. I saw her with Wesker. She got into his car and they drove off.”

“See? I told you there was a guy she didn’t want you to know about!” Joseph laughed. “They must’ve hit it off after she went down to the station to give him a piece of her mind. Bet now she’s giving him a piece of something better!” Barry slugged him hard in the arm. “Ow!”

This was new information to Chris. He sat there, dumbfounded, at a loss for words as his mind processed exactly what Robert had said. “She didn’t get in trouble...that I know of. Wesker would’ve called me, for sure.”

Barry frowned. “For sure…But then why else would Claire be with him?”

“Chris, buddy, I love you, but let’s be honest here, they’re probably doing the nasty.”

“Jesus, Forest,” Jill growled, facepalming. “Don’t be starting those kinds of rumors.”

“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, s’all I’m sayin’.”

Chris glared at Forest. “Between you and Joseph, I’m gonna shove those beer bottles so far up your backdoor you two won’t be walking straight. Ever. Again.”

“Sorry,” Kendo interrupted. “I didn’t mean to get everyone so riled up. I was just curious. Looked harmless to me.”

“Dumb and Dumber here like to start shit,” Barry explained, glaring at Joseph and Forest. “I’m sure it was harmless. It is Wesker, after all. Maybe she just needed a ride.”

“Or maybe he offered her one,” Jill added. “He’s quite the gentleman.”

“Gentleman?!” Forest scoffed. “The guy’s a hard ass and a dick to us most of the time!”

“I mean, yeah, he kinda has to be. He’s our boss. But really, he isn’t that bad to most of us. You two just get on his nerves all the time,” Richard admitted.

“Hey, who’s side are you on, Aiken?”

“I’m j-just s-stating the facts!”

“Alright, alright, knock it off, all of you,” Jill ordered in her “mom voice”.

“It’s all harmless joking,” Joseph defended. “And Chris knows it, right bud? I mean, how often do I joke what if Wesker is actually a sociopathic supervillain on a quest for power? Of course he isn’t...but I sometimes wonder!”

Chris shook his head. Joseph and Forest were frustrating at times with their nonstop jokes, but he knew it was never mean-spirited. They all ribbed each other all the time; it was their clique’s twisted way of showing they cared about each other.

“You and your weird conspiracies, Joe...But really, let’s just drop the subject, okay? I don’t care why Claire was with Wesker,” he lied. “Because I know it doesn’t mean anything. Got it?”

“Got it,” they all agreed.

“Good. Now can we all please get along, drink some beer, and talk about something pleasant? Like the weather or something?”

They all looked to the front of the bar, where the windows were. Snow fell just outside, looking to have picked up since they arrived at the bar.

“Oh yeah, pleasant RC snow...love it,” Jill quipped dryly.

Chris scowled, rubbing the back of his neck. He had even more worries on his mind now, thanks to their earlier discussion. And no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t push them away.

His overreacting, protective brotherly instincts had continued to gnaw at him, making him wonder about the integrity of this “babysitting job”. Claire had never given him a reason to doubt her, but still he worried.

There was something going on with Claire. She was definitely hiding something, and his innate detective instincts kept putting together the clues, all starting over a week ago. Some kind of worry or panic she hid from that jog on the mountain hiking trails, her quiet, wandering thoughts, some questionable explanations, the injuries she hid on her hand and ankle...and then this Wiliam Birkin came out of nowhere with a babysitting job for her. “A friend of a friend.”

And now she was with Wesker on the other side of town when she was supposed to be babysitting? That set off a whole wave of bad thoughts and red flags in his mind.

No, he told himself firmly. It’s Wesker. There has to be a logical explanation! I bet it’s all harmless and I’m worried for nothing.

Captain Wesker may have been a hard ass at times, and he and Chris bumped heads occasionally, but they respected each other and got along great most of the time. He was one of the best men he knew. A damn good leader and boss, too. After his big screw up in the Air Force, not many were willing to give Chris a chance, and Wesker did.

There was absolutely no reason to worry about Claire being with him. If anything, it should have relieved him...knowing his little sister was in good hands. Wesker would take care of her.

But deep down inside, something small, some miniscule but insistent doubt ate at him. A growing part of him was questioning whether everything was as innocent as it seemed...

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[thecluelessdoctor]

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