#also the times where jill was still taller than claire SIGH
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claire redfield & jill valentine in NY sometime in early 2000s ( picture taken by chris ) - @iknowwhataradiois
#iknowwhataradiois#chris' annoying ass wanting to take a pic of his besties so bad jhbjh at least they look good#also the times where jill was still taller than claire SIGH
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give your heart and soul to charity
rating: fluff
warning: season 2 spoilers. drinking
the umbrella academy oneshot
words: 1.2k
AO3
post season 2 au: five finally gets the hugs he deserves but does not want (but he really actually does)
Allison gave a deep sigh. It had been a rough couple of days but now they were finally set and safe in 2019. Right now it was only the 7 of them, their new family resting in the infirmary after the barrage of tests and shots they had to get.
âIâm getting a drink. Who wants a drink? I think we should have a drink.â
Allison wanted to argue but Klaus did have a point. She felt like they all deserved a drink.
She felt bone-deep tired - theyâve been go go go for the last week - trying to stop another apocalypse, dealing with the multitude of family issues present, then trying to get everyone caught up and settled in their new life.
She slowed her walk to the couches as that thought registered in her mind. They had been going for a week but Five...he had been at this longer, hadnât he?
The 6 of them had time to rest and recuperate (or forget) the original apocalypse but Five...he had immediately dropped from his last-ditch effort to save his family only to find out that it hadnât exactly worked and that he had to do it all over again but with less information this time around.
And this time around, his siblings actually listened to his warnings but didnât want to help him.Â
She...didnât know how to feel about that.
âAllison? Whatâs with the face?â
She frowned, just a little, and did an about-face. She strode over to Five, who subtly backed away from her then froze in disbelief when she threw her arms around him.Â
âWhat?â
âShut up and accept this affection.â
He stood completely still and seemed to stand up even straighter when the rest of their siblings joined her.Â
Vanya was the first to join her, still the shortest of all of them, wrapping her arms around their waists. Ben was next, somehow reenacting the Horror but with only his 2 human arms, surrounding all 3 of them. Diego made the sulkiest face he knew how to make but he slowly made his way to the sibling hug. Luther and Klaus finished up the group in their own style - Klaus was obnoxiously smothering them and Luther almost lifting the entire group off their feet.
But Five stayed right where he was, right in the middle of them.
âThank you, Five. For coming back. For saving us. For not leaving us.â
She had to let him know how much she appreciated him, and how much he did for them. He had spent 45 years in a post-apocalyptic world, 5 years as a time-traveling assassin, and then spent 2 straight weeks trying to stop an apocalypse from happening and trying to keep his family alive, then went zipping around various timelines getting things set for them to be happy here.
The rest of their siblings followed her example, thanking Five personally for all the help that heâd given them over time.Â
He stayed in their arms but he also wasnât moving - she was afraid that theyâd finally broken him.Â
They stayed where they were for an age and just as she was getting ready to use her elbows to move her brothers off her, she felt Five shift, just a little, and lean into the hug.Â
She squeezed him just a little tighter then weaponized her elbows - she knew that he didnât care for and wasnât used to long displays of affection.Â
As she left her taller brothers cursing, she moved over to the bar to gather the margaritas that Klaus had made.
âTime for drinks!â
They spent the next couple of hours slowly getting more and more smashed, finally getting into the groove of being siblings after 30 long years.
---
Grace moved through the house quietly. She didnât want to wake any of the people now living here. And she was so happy that there were now more people that were calling this place home. She was even happier that they had decided to make the house a home for themselves.Â
She had heard that Luther and Klaus were planning on repainting everything to a more inviting color. Ben - her wonderful gentle Ben, now alive again - had been musing that Jill would enjoy turning the backyard into a proper garden.
She didnât have the word to describe how it made her feel to have all 7 of her children back home. And even better! Her daughters had kids of their own! She was a grandmother now.Â
She was excited to get to know all the people brought into her life.
As she passed by the library, she saw the most adorable sight. She turned and got her camera to have physical evidence of this moment.Â
Luther and Diego were curled up together on one of the smaller couches, Ben was sandwiched between her girls, and little Five and Klaus were a tangle of limbs in the armchair right in front of the fireplace.
After she got her photos, she went through the room and covered up her children - she didnât want them to get cold during the night. She removed all the glasses from their hands, deciding to leave them on the table in front of them, and closed the curtains so the sun wouldnât wake them up. Based on the mess she spotted on the bar top, she didnât think that they would enjoy that kind of harsh awakening.
After she was sure they were as comfortable as she could make them, she placed a kiss on their foreheads, then left, closing the door behind her as she went.
She needed to recharge for the night.Â
She had a feeling that she would have a lot to keep her busy in the coming days.
--
Allison groaned as a thud awoke her from her sleep. She turned away from the sound, determined to get some more sleep and hopefully wake up later feeling more human.
The cursing that followed the thud chased that dream away.
She turned her head slightly, uncovering one of her eyes to see what the sounds were. She was greeted with the hilarious sight of Luther and Diego tangled up together and thrashing about trying to get away from each other. She took a mental picture of both of them, and of the hilarious sight of Klaus smothering Five in an armchair - both still somehow asleep, then turned back to bury her face against Ben.
It had been too long since she could hug Ben and was too early in the morning with a hangover to deal with anything other than not dying.
Ben slouched a little more and wrapped his arms around her and Vanya.
Allison smiled slightly. She wanted more of this. Of her and her siblings living together semi-peacefully. The only thing that would make this better is if Ray and Claire were here with her.
But that would come in time.
#the umbrella academy imagine#the umbrella academy season 2#tua season two#season 2 spoilers#s2 spoilers#the umbrella academy#tua imagine#allison hargreeves#five hargreeves#ben hargreeves#vanya hargreeves#klaus hargreeves#grace hargreeves#luther hargreeves#diego hargreeves#hargreeves children#my stuff#m's fics#give you heart and soul to charity
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Valley of the Dead - 1
aka That Caveman AU that nobody asked for.
Winter hadnât yet fully set in, but it was coming fast. The always-biting winds that came from the icy shelves in the north that rimmed the edge of the world had turned fierce against their fur cloaks and it was only going to get worse. He could smell the snow in the air. They were running out of time.
Chris guided them into a valley, mostly to stay out of sight but also to look for somewhere to hole up for the night. They were in another clanâs territory now and heâd seen signs of other people earlier in the day. They couldnât risk getting caught. While his former clan made no war with this one, that did not mean he could count on no hostilities, especially considering they were outcasts.
Well,he was, and it should have been him alone, but Claire came with him. On one hand he should have made her stay, on the other it was too likely sheâd still suffer for his crime just by the fact she was his sister.
Heâd rather have her nearby anyway. Both to protect her and for her company. Not that she couldnât handle herself if necessary, heâd made sure of that and continued to do so even as they journeyed, but he was her brother and would safeguard her until she chose a man for herself to do so. Chris wouldnât like it but that was her right and expectation.
Chris thumped the butt of his spear against a large stone jutting out of the incline, testing it before he dropped himself down and scanned the ground below him and the horizon above. A few foxes scampered across the valley floor an disappeared, probably for good until the winter passed.
Clair dropped down beside him and pulled her wolfsfur cape tighter about herself. âWe need to find shelter.â
âIâm doing that.â
âI mean for the winter. Weâll freeze at this rate.â
âWe donât have enough food to last us more than a few days, much less the rest of the season.â
âWeâll go out during the day and hunt and gather what we can.One day at a time,â she smiled at him and pat his shoulder, âWeâve been through worse.â
No, they hadnât, but he smiled back and nodded anyway.
âAlright, but letâs keep going a little longer.â
The valley wasnât deep at this point, and looking ahead he could see out of it again onto the vast, treeless plain of scrub and icedust. The caribou and bison and other hoofed beasts had moved on, the larger predators after them or gone to ground like their man cousins until the Sun shone strong again and blessed the earth with his warmth. For now the Sun was sinking lower and lower in the sky a bit more every day, sleeping through the winter save when he would poke his head up to make sure things hadnât completely frozen over. To keep those vast ice walls in the north right where they were, just on the horizon.
The Sun would stay awake a little longer yet for him and Claire, and yet Chris still felt uneasy. Had for a short time now. A voice inside him whispering to move on, now. So he goaded Claire on and they moved further into the valley, eyes sharp for a cave or at least an overhang to shelter them for the night. If Father Sun blessed them with a bit more of his light then the spirits of the earth cursed them and hid their gaps and openings. Chris worried. They had a spare bison blanket in the hide tarp Chris carried, and he was certain between the two of them and a fire if they stayed out of the wind they would survive the cold, but they would be vulnerable out in the open. To beasts, to weather, to men. Chris shuddered and picked up his pace, risking the noise. He shouldnât have.
He knew they were there before he saw them, and still he could do nothing more than thrust Claire behind him as they seemed to climb from the rocks themselves. Men, spears raised and eyes bearing no friendliness. There were four of them and they circled Chris and Claire easily, even as Chris pondered his ability to fight them. He could count on Claire, and one of the men just out of the corner of his eye was slight of build. It wasnât a good one, but there was a chance if they had to fight, but with those odds heâd rather not. He raised his hands slowly, spear point and palms up in a peaceful gesture and also in reverence to the Sun, showing these others that while not of the same clan they were of the same people, and wait. If they returned the gesture then all would be well.
The man in front of Chris stepped forward but did not return the signal, his antler spear tip edging close to Chrisâ heart. He was older than Chris, taller, though not by much, his pale hair slicked back with animal fats and braided in beads, dark paint wiped across the eyes as though he was trying to hide them. It only made the blue irises stand out more. The quality of the hides he wore and the care of the beads and bone sewn into them marked him one of standing in the group.
Chris swallowed but held his pose.
The man tapped Chris in the chest with the spear but not hard enough to pierce. âWho are you?â
âI am Chris, born the year the fields of the east bloomed red.â
âAnd what clan claims you?â
âNone.â
The man narrowed his eyes. Those expelled from their clans were done so for a reason and rarely ones those of other clans could ignore. Chris was lucky enough his crime had not been worth a marring. Apparently the man thought so as well as his attention moved past Chris.
âThe girl...your woman?â
âMy sister, both by parents and sign. The fields were red for her too.â
âTruly?â The manâs eyes sharpened with sudden interest as he regarded Claire, and he tapped Chris hard on the side with his spear, signalling him to move aside for a better view of her. Chris only shifted just enough to recapture the strangerâs eyes.
âWe donât mean to trespass, weâre only passing through. Weâll be gone by tomorrow.â
âEven in passing, with as little as you are carrying, you will eat of our lands and take what we made need,â the man snapped, annoyed at Chrisâ defiance.
Before Chris could reply, the slight man to his right stepped forward and Chris realized his error. Not a slight man at all, but a woman! A hunter like the men, and judging by the hardness of her eyes and tone of her arms and legs, the bear teeth she wore around her neck had no doubt been her kill.
The woman stepped beside her leader and spoke, softly, but not attempting to hide her words. âWesker, they could be useful. Bring them back, what good are they frozen on the plain?â
âTheyâd be more mouths to feed,â he growled at her, never breaking eye contact with Chris.
âThe caribou were plentiful this season, we have more than enough. Besides, this man is young and strong, he could hunt if we need fresh meat, and as for the girl...â she shrugged.
The man, Wesker, sighed, then glanced beyond Chris to the two other men. âWhat of you two?â
âHeh, if anything, if we need more meat we send this one out into the cold to get it!â
âAn extra spearhand doesnât hurt, I guess...but whatever you want.â
Again those piercing eyes snapped to Chrisâ own, then traveled upwards to the sky then the Sun, Weskerâs head tilting slightly as though he was listening. Slowly his speartip rose away from Chris, and Wesker raised one hand slightly upward, palm out. The other two men and the woman put their spears up.
Wesker gestured for the two to follow and then deftly jumped up the rocks and out of the valley. The woman gave them only the slightest of smiles before following after. Chris took Claireâs hand and the two climbed up the slope, the remaining men staying behind, just in case they tried to run, Chris supposed. But run to where?
âWell, I guess we found shelter for the winter,â he said to Claire.
âI hope so,â she whispered, then released his hand to ease her climb.
One of the men caught up and stayed beside Chris as they ascended and crested the valley edge. âIâm Joseph, born not far from here with a crown of frost,â he said proudly, âThatâs Brad back there. What clan are you from?â
Chris hesitated, then sighed. âBird clan. There was a...disagreement.â
âAnything we need to worry about?â
âNo. And my sister wasnât involved...â
Claire butt in, âChris is my brother. Where he goes, I go.â
Joseph held up his hands in placation. âHey, I understand, I have sister. She married off to another family, I only see her in the summer when the clan gathers for the caribou hunt. Anyway, if Weskerâs bringing you home then youâre over the worst of it.â
âWeskerâs your leader?â
âYeah, he runs this group. Carry your weight and heâll leave you alone.â
âSounds fair,â Chris said.
The band traveled across the open plain, the wind picking up as the Sun sank lower and stretched shadows across the land. Wesker snapped at them to hurry up and their pace increased to a light jog as they headed towards a sharp drop in the land that, with the Sun setting behind them, made it seem as though the world ended as nothing but darkness stretched beyond.
âAlmost there,â the woman said and pointed out into the darkness.
There was the slightest glint of sunlight reflecting off distant hills, the darkness a long shadow cast over a lake caused by the dip in the land. The band slowed and began to descend the steep drop towards the water. The surface of the lake was very still, reflecting the dark sky above and making it seem like a large patch of blackness. The Sun sank into the earth to rest in the underworld and night closed about them.
âI didnât get your name,â Chris asked the woman.
âJill.â
âJust Jill?â
âJust Jill,â she said, her tone emphasizing that that was all she was going to say on the matter.
âWell, Jill, thank you for speaking up for us. The best I was hoping for was a shelter for the night.â
âHonestly, Chris, you and your sister will find youâre not the only ones here who have come from strange places. We arenât...well it doesnât matter.â
âSo this isnât temporary? Youâd let us stay? Wesker wouldnât mind?â
âIf you want to, I donât see why not.â
Chris glanced back at Claire and she smiled. âI thought the spirits had cursed us,â she said, âbut I guess weâve been given a second chance.â
Despite the dark the strangers found their way along the rocks easily, their feet finding a path while their hands led Chris and Claire. Wesker turned before they reached the water and disappeared into the rocks. Faint, flickering light shone on the stones as he drew aside the covering of the entrance of a cave, providing a guide Chris and Claire could follow.
Within the craggy cliff beside the lake a cave lay buried among the rubble, its entrance extended by an awning of earth and hide stretched over the bones of a mammoth to keep the rain and frost from coming inside. A hide hung across the entrance, held open by Wesker, glaring at them for dawdling. Joseph and Brad slid past and vanished into the light and heat of the cave while Chris took it all in.
Wesker went in and Jill took the hide in his place, holding it open to the siblings.
âYouâll find second chances are a common thing here,â she smiled fully, and it was lovely, âWelcome to Raccoon Clan.â
#resident evil#chris redfield#claire redfield#albert wesker#jill valentine#joseph frost#brad vickers#valley of the dead#fanfic#I don't know either
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Nightfall (Ch.8)
Synopsis: Pre-Resident Evil 1, slight-AU. 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.
AO3 Link
Chapter 8: Know When to Lie
Claire turned the keys to the ignition off in the truck and got out. Morning rush was particularly slow and busy on her way back from the police station after dropping off Chris. Even with the freshly salted and bulldozed roads, there was still an accident. The younger Redfield sibling was just happy to be back home. She needed peace and quiet to figure out her next move in this life or death chess game. She was, at the very least, happy to see that the sun had finally come out after days of gloomy cloud coverage.
Hello big, bright yellow ball in the sky, you feel so nice!
If it hadnât been so nippy from the morning chill, she wouldâve stayed outside to bask in it. Sighing, Claire unlocked Chrisâs house and went inside. She hung up her parka and Chrisâs keys and went into the kitchen to get a bottled water. She paused, brows furrowing as she noticed the small, colorful piece of paper stuck on the counter top in an obvious place. She froze reaching for the refrigerator handle, staring at the elegant handwriting on the note. It definitely wasnât hers and it definitely wasnât Chrisâs.
Her heart began beating faster as a chill ran over her. Someoneâs been in the houseâŚ
Swallowing, Claire slowly reached over and picked up the note and read it. Raccoon Park, Angel Statue, Noon. Come alone.
Claire read it over and over again. She didnât recognize the penmanship. Questions raced through her mind. Who wrote this? What did they want? Was this a trap? But the note wouldnât answer any of these. The handwriting looked feminine, but that didnât mean that Wesker didnât put it here on purpose to trick her.
Claire grabbed her gun and searched the house. Nothing was out of place. She was all alone here. Whoever broke into the house to plant the note was a master at stealth. After confirming the house was safe, Claire went back to the kitchen. She wondered all morning whether she should go or not. She couldnât risk it being a trap of some sort, whether by Wesker or someone else. But what if it was someone who could help her? Why risk losing that opportunity? If she went, Claire would have to play this smart and cool. She wouldnât know what she would be getting into at that point.
Once she finally made up her mind that she would meet this mysterious note writer, Claire got ready. The morning hours dragged by excruciating slow it seemed like. She ignored any second guessing or stress attempting to get under her skin and stayed resolved. She drove to Raccoon Park and arrived a little early. After sitting in the truck for a few minutes, preparing herself for whatever could happen, she grabbed her gun and got out.
She locked the truck and stuffed the keys in her pocket. Her gun was in the inside pocket of her parka; snug, secure, hidden. She shook more from nerves than the icy cold outside but fixed her scarf anyway. She walked through the park, heading for the angel statue mentioned in the note. There was only one such statue in the large park in northern Raccoon City.
The park was covered in snow, trees bare, not even a single crispy leaf left on a branch. The winter gave a certain beauty to the park, but it also added an air of solace. In spring and summer, the park looked quite different. Very few people were out here in the cold, even with the sun out. Claire passed a couple walking their dog, and the basketball and tennis courts were empty. Even the playground equipment was left forgotten, accumulating snow from the night before. The plaza and fountain, too, were devoid of most life.
Because of the bare trees, Claire could see Raccoon General Hospital just across the street. The sound of traffic could be heard faintly, but the cawing crows and skittering squirrels were closer. When she passed over the bridge of Circular River, the river that cut through Raccoon City, she knew she was getting close to the angel statue.
She found it near the entrance to the cemetery in the back of the big park. The lonely angel statue was old, tarnished and cracked. A few icicles dangled off of the angel, its shoulders and extended wings draped with snow. The forlorn, soulless face stared down at Claire, unmoving and vigilant.
DONG!!!
Claire jumped, spinning as crows took to the sky with raucous caws. Saint Michael Clock Tower had just hit noon next door to the hospital. The twelve loud, hollow dongs echoed across the park. The final chime died away, swept away by icy wind. Claire stepped closer to the statue. She had made it on time, but no one was around.Â
Sighing, Claire looked up at the angel. She felt so isolated and alone. It wasnât even a week ago that she was here with Chris and Jill ice-skating on the other side of the park, oblivious to the evils of Albert Wesker. If only she hadnât gone to the mountain trails the following morning, she would still be obliviousâŚand safe. She asked the statue silentlyâŚwhy? But the angel, melting snow streaming down her face like tears, did not answer her.
âDevils are attracted to angels, didnât you know?â
Claireâs heart leapt to her throat, and she turned, hand going to the hidden gun in her coat. A woman approached her slowly, large sunglasses hiding most of her beautiful, ivory face. She had dark hair that shone like raven feathers and wore a black mink coat, a scarf, and a red dress with leggings and fur-lined boots. She looked like she had just stepped out of a fashion show, a model out on an afternoon stroll. Claire kept her cool. She didnât recognize the lady at all, but something told her she needed to watch herself.
The womanâs red lips quirked. âAnd youâve caught the interest of the worst devil of all, little angel.â
âWho are you?â Claire asked.
âShh, we canât talk here,â she answered. âFollow me.â
Claire didnât budge as the mysterious woman took a few steps towards the cemetery. She paused, looking over her shoulder, pulling away her sunglasses to reveal honey-brown eyes and long lashes. âYou coming, Claire? Donât worry, you wonât need to use that gun in your pocket.â
Claire was intrigued but confused. She cautiously followed the woman into Circular River Cemetery. They walked the recently salted paths through the silent, empty graveyard. The numerous headstones came in all shapes and sizes, all covered in softening snow under the glare of the sun. The sound of water dripping from melting snow could be heard. Crows perched in the twisted, bare branches of the trees watched them closely. The two women finally stopped in front of a large, fancy granite headstone taller than them and shaped like a cross.
The woman looked Claire over, thinking to herself. The college student did the same to her, trying to figure out who she was.
âSo? Who are you? What do you want with me?â Claire demanded.
âThatâs not important. Tell me what happened between you and Albert.â
âWhy? What are you going to do to me?â
The mysterious woman sighed. âRelax, Claire. Iâm not here to kill you or get you into more trouble. Iâm trying to understand whatâs going on.â
Claire shook her head, standing her ground. âSorry, lady, but Iâve been having a real hard time trusting people lately.â
âFor good reason, it sounds like.â The raven-haired beauty chuckled. Her smile soon faded. âAlright, itâs only fair, I suppose. Iâm Ada Wong.â
Claire stepped away from her, shocked. Ada mustâve read her expression, and slipped her sunglasses inside her pocket. âYouâve heard of me. How much do you know?â
âAnnette Birkin mentioned youâŚthatâs all I know, I swear.â
Ada raised an eyebrow. âSoâŚAlbert and the Birkins? Arenât you getting tangled in quite the web? Tell me what happened between you and Albert.â
Claireâs shoulders sagged. âFineâŚI was out running on the Arklay Hiking Trails and stumbled upon him and William Birkin murdering this poor guy.â
âNed Finley. Trust me, he wasnât a great guy. RegardlessâŚyou were caught by Albert?â
Claire nodded. âBlackmailed me. Said if I donât stay quiet, he will kill me and my brother.â
âYour brother is a STARS officer, correct?â
âYeah.â
âHow did you meet Annette then?â Ada inquired, still looking Claire over as though she was trying to figure her out.
âWell, I tried going to Chief Irons, thinking he could help me. But he was in on it too, and he made William take me down into this underground facility run by Umbrella. I met Annette there.â
âOh, boyâŚAnd Albert arrived there to get you?â
Claire didnât like where this was going. âY-YeahâŚbut he hid me from this Colonel Sergei guy first.â
Adaâs brows furrowed, lips quirking. âAlbertâŚplaying hide and seek with the Colonel over a college girl? What do you have planned?â
âExcuse me?â
âSorry, itâs just that you are quite different from his otherâŚvictims. When Albert gets control over someone, theyâre usually pawns with certain knowledge or skills he can use for his own agenda. Innocent people like you, however...well, theyâre usually killed...if theyâre lucky. So the million dollar question here isâŚwhy you?"
Claire glared at her. âIâve been asking myself that same question. But you know what? I donât really give a fuck anymore, I just want out. I want my life back to normal and I want my brother safe! What is your part in all of this anyway?â
âWell, Iâm suppose to dispose of you, for one.â Ada held up a hand when Claire reached for her hidden gun. âBut killing innocent people just isnât my style. I avoid it if all possible. So, I guess that leaves my part with determining what Albert wants with you.â
Claire snorted and crossed her arms. âYeah, let me know if you figure that out.â
Ada nodded. âI will. But you must promise me something, Claire, or both of us will be in dire straits.â
âWhat is it?â
âYou cannot tell anyone you met me, especially Albert, and you need to stay out of trouble with him. Do as he says and donât try to expose him. Just be a perfect little angel for that devil.â
âYouâre crazy. Iâm not gonna be his plaything!â
Ada softly laughed. âYou kinda already are. And unfortunately, if you want your brother to live, youâll have to play the part for awhile. At least until I figure out what he is planning. Albert isnât the only danger, Claire. There are other people who may find out about you, and you and your brother will be dead no matter what then. At least use Albertâs leash on you to your advantage, he is obviously protecting you for a reason. Fighting him will only make him decide you arenât worth the risk.â
She made a good point. Claire thought back to the whole situation with Colonel Sergei in NEST. âFine, I promise, but only if you help me out of this mess.â
âThatâs easier said than done. Until we figure out what Albert wants with you, I wonât be of much help. But Iâll do what I can.â
Claire was surprised in her answer. âReally? Even though you and Wesker are friends? Even though you work for Umbrella, too?â
âAlbert and I are not friends, allies on occasion, but mostly we just use each other,â Ada answered with a frown. âAs far as Umbrella goes, they arenât the only one I work for, and it depends on my interests at the time on who I support.â
Claire knew she wasnât going to get a better answer than that. It looked like she was going to have to put her faith into this mysterious woman, despite the warnings she received from the Birkins. Then again, she couldnât trust their word either.
âOkayâŚIâll do my best to stay out of trouble.â
Ada nodded. âGood. Iâll see what I can find out in the meantime. Iâll get in contact with you soon. Iâll leave here first. Wait five minutes before leaving after me in case we are being watched.â
The beautiful woman turned and started heading out of the cemetery, but only managed a few steps before Claire called out at her. âIs it trueâŚdid you beat Wesker at his own game?â
Ada was quiet at first, deciding her words carefully. âThereâs more than winning or losing, Claire. I may have gotten the upper hand on him once, but the sacrifice I made to do so wasnât worth it in the end. And I am still paying for it. Itâs best to not play a game of chess with the Devil, because even if you win, youâll still lose.â
Claire barely nodded, disappointed. Ada left the cemetery after that without even looking back. Claire remained by the large cross headstone, thinking over what just happened. She almost felt overwhelmed, her life was getting too risky, too complicated. She longed to return to the old ways being oblivious and safe. Ada may surprisingly be her best hope now, but Claire felt it in her bones that she still couldnât completely trust the woman.
The younger Redfield sibling sighed, feeling a headache coming on. I need a coffeeâŚ
Ada spent the next few hours after talking to the Redfield girl watching Weskerâs movements. He seemed consistently busy with STARS and so felt it was safe to corner William when he was least expecting it. If Ada was able to get William away from Wesker and Annette, he would probably talk, at least with her. She was persuasive enough. William didnât trust her completely, but they did get along.Â
Wesker being out of the picture long enough wasnât a problem, so long as he was at the RPD. Annette was a different story. She did not like Ada and didnât trust her at all. Ada hated dealing with her. And so when she found out that Annette was leaving NEST to go pick up their daughter Sherry, Ada took the risk and slipped into the subterranean base right behind her.
She knew if Wesker hadnât already caught on to her snooping around that this would do it. Not just because of William, whether he stayed quiet or not, but because there was no reason for her to be down in NEST in the first place.
Ada got her Visitorâs wristband from the front desk with a special âAll Accessâ chip courtesy of Lord Spencer and Sergei. With Annette out of the way, Adaâs stroll through NEST was a piece of cake. Most people knew who she was and didnât bother her. The agent made her way to the West Section where she knew William would be. She arrived to his personal laboratory after stepping through the decontamination chamber. Ada wasnât surprised that even her âAll Accessâ wristband wouldnât allow her entry.
Ada looked over her shoulder, making sure no one was around and pulled out her EMF Visualizer. She hacked the door and it slid open without a problem. She stepped inside and the door closed right behind her. The laboratory was large, clean, and a little disorganized and well-used. There were quite a few computers and operating tables. There was even a small living area with a bed, a closet, and a full bathroom and a kitchenette.
The lab was quiet except for the faint humming of the computers, incubators, and various other machinery. The most distinct sound, however, was that of William standing over his computer typing away. He had his thinking face on, and didnât even bother looking up. Ada wasnât sure if he just didnât hear her or assumed she was Annette, as only the Birkins and a select few were allowed in here. It was humorous to watch for a moment, his mind racing calculations and solutions at an impressive rate. If there was anyone smarter than Wesker as far as virology and pathology went, it was definitely this man before her.
William changed his posture, putting more weight on his left foot as he paused in his typing to look down at some notes, chewing on his lip. Ada heard his pager go off a couple of times but the genius didnât bother fetching it. Ada quietly approached, her eyes scanning over the computer screen, expecting to see intricate notes on Golgotha, the G-Virus, that he was always working on. Instead, she saw an interesting title with a few head-scratching terms. Project W? Surely you can do better than name a project after yourself, WillâŚ
âPrototype Virus? Whatâs that?â
William jumped out of his skin, whirling around and blocking the computer screen with his body. His hand felt for the keyboard and he exited out of the program he was in. âJesus Christ! What the hell are you doing here?!â
âRelax!â Ada laughed. âGeez, youâre jumpy.â
âWell, damn straight I am, youâre not supposed to be here!â
Ada put a finger to her lips, winking at him. He breathed heavily, still half-panicked. Ada ran her fingers delicately up his chest, leaning in close. William gulped, leaning back even further into his desk. Ada rubbed his shoulders, caressed her hands up his neck and the man almost melted in her fingers.
âIs that better, Will?â Ada asked seductively.
His throat was dry. âYouâŚyou should leave, Ada. Seriously.â
Ada pulled him away from the computer. âI wonât stay long. Promise. Help a girl out?â
Ada slipped out of her coat and laid it over a nearby chair. Williamâs eye twitched, and he tried to back away, but Ada grabbed his wrists. âI just have a few questions, handsome, and then Iâm out of your hair.â
A strangled sound came from Williamâs throat. âNoâŚAdaâŚyou donât understand.â
Ada was sure her flirtations would quickly melt William, but he wasnât budging. Barely. Just as she saw William gulp, his eyes darting to the laboratory door, her gut churned. She backed away. He was trying to warn her. Shit, he knowsâŚ
When the door to Williamâs laboratory slid open with a chime, Ada inwardly shuddered. She saw Williamâs puppy-dog look of an apology and moved away from her. Ada took a deep breath and gathered herself as the sound of boot steps filled the laboratory. The crispy static of a walky-talky buzzed in her nerves, but Ada slyly smiled and turned around.
âAlbertâŚjust who I was looking for.â
Wesker wore his STARS Captain uniform. She saw the buzzing radio on his hip, as well as the gleaming holstered Samurai Edge that has killed many an unfortunate soul. He didnât have his headset on, but his shades were there as usual. William didnât say a word, eyes flicking between them and shivering like a nervous, small dog.
âMs. Wong. Fancy seeing you all the way down here. What brings you to the heart of Williamâs domain?â
Ada smiled innocently. âBusiness.â
A faint chuckle escaped Weskerâs lips, echoing softly in the laboratory and making his friend a little sweaty.
âReally?â Wesker sounded intrigued. âAre you here to kill William?â
âNo.â
âAre you here to steal his research and sell it to the two other companies you spy for?â
Ada flinched, but kept a straight face. âNo.â
There was that devious smile that she both loved and hated. âThen you are not here on business, are you?â
âYouâd be surprised, actually.â
âOh? Do enlighten me, Ada.â
William couldnât take the pressure, bursting out just beside them. âI gotta get some coffee! Do you guys want coffee? Of course you do! Everybody wants coffee!â
He beelined for the exit, but Wesker snatched his shirt and slammed him into the nearby wall. âAww câmon, Al! I didnât say shit!â
âYou forgot to ask our lovely lady here if she wants sugar or creamer,â Wesker said with a half-glare.
âBlack is fine, Will, thanks,â Ada answered without taking her eyes off Wesker.
William eagerly nodded. Wesker let him go. The Golgotha researcher practically dematerialized he left so fast. Ada and Wesker glared at each other. Ada was going to have to play this cool. She regretted not sending him a coded message earlier. She shouldâve known he wouldâve caught onto her fast.
âIâm waiting,â Wesker growled. The man may have had unlimited patience, but he hated waiting longer than he needed to.
At this point, honesty would be her best bet hereâŚwith a few white lies. âSergeiâs asked me to investigate a strange matter. He thinks you didnât kill a witnessâŚa girl named Claire Redfield.â She smiled flirtatiously at him. âLucky for you, Iâm on your side. So, tell me the truth, Albert. Whatâs going on exactly?â
Wesker remained collected, just as he always did, even under pressure. âIs that right? What makes him assume that I havenât disposed of her already?â
Ada cocked her head with a cute smile. âDo you really think he would tell me that much?â
Wesker chuckled. That was a good sign. âA valid point. But you already knew Ms. Redfield wasnât dead, did you Ada?â
Adaâs heart skipped but she remained impassive. The possibility that Albert knew of her meeting with Claire in the park was slim. She couldnât expose herself. After all, every interaction with Wesker was a test of wills, a game of calculation and strategy.
With a seductive smile, she pulled in just a little closer to the Devil. She tiptoed two fingers up his chest playfully. âWhy do you say that, Albert? I actually had no clue, but thanks for confirming that she is, in fact, still alive.â
Wesker wasnât fazed. âWhat will you tell Sergei?â
The agent shrugged. âDepends. What purpose does Claire have to you? Sheâs a nobodyâŚa college student. It isnât possible she could benefit you in any way.â
âWho said I was using her?â
âYou use everyone to your own advantage. Even your best friend.â
His lips barely quirked. âIn that case, I see many ways that Ms. Redfield could benefit me.â
âWhat are they?â
âWhy should I enlighten you?â
âJust to satiate my curiosity. Do you want my help getting Sergei off your back or not?â
âCuriosity killed the cat, Ms. Wong. Besides, I look forward to luring Sergei where I want him. And Ms. Redfield could act as leverage in the process.â
Heâs not going to reveal anything. Let it go, AdaâŚBest to stop while youâre aheadâŚ
âFine. Iâll get Sergei off your back for now, but seriously Albert youâre going to have to throw me a bone here because I cannot keep him at bay for long.â
âSure you can, Ada,â Wesker purred with a leer. âAfter all, it is in your best interest that I stick around, is it not?â
She glared at him. âMaybe so. But it is also in your best interest that I stick around as well.â
âTouchĂŠ,â Wesker chuckled.
âYou scratch my back, Iâll scratch yours. Isnât that what we always say?â
âYou want a bone? Then how about thisâŚLetâs just say that if I can utilize Claire Redfield in the way that I want, betterâŚopportunities will arise for the both of us.â
That caught her interest. It was distinctly vague, but it was the only kind of answer she would receive for now. And Ada wasnât even sure how much of it she could trust, considering the source. All she knew was that it sounded as though Claire was going to be a pawn for one of Weskerâs power plays. Which meant she would most likely end up dead in the end. Poor girl. Ada actually liked her.
âWhatâs the matter? Bone too small?â
Ada softly laughed. âNah, just too many splinters to chew on. It just sucks for the poor girl, is all.â
Just as the laboratory door slid open again, Wesker smirked. âOh, donât worry. Iâll take good care of Claire.â
Ada thought that was a strange thing for him to say, even if he was joking. She didnât have time to dwell on it though as William entered with a tray holding three cups of steaming coffee. He grinned at them, looking a lot more composed, and Ada wondered if it wasnât just the tension between her and Wesker that had made him so jumpy, but the mysterious âPrototype Virusâ she caught him working on.
âDid I miss the uncomfortable conversation that I aimed to avoid?â William asked.
Ada laughed. âYes Will, you did. Good job.â
âThank God!â
After Ada left the laboratory, William brought up the video feed of the security footage and watched her make it halfway across NEST before feeling better. William sighed in relief but when his eyes caught Weskerâs hard glare behind his sunglasses, he shrunk a little. Shades or no shades, expression or no expression, the Golgotha researcher could read his partner like a book. After all, they had known each other since they were kids.
âHey. Donât give me that look. You knew before me,â William huffed.
Wesker folded his arms. âYou really should pay more attention to your surroundings, Will. She hacked her way right into this laboratory and you were alone.â
âAwww. I love it when you care. Thanks, bud! I mean youâre right though.â William tapped his chin in thought. âMaybe I should start requiring her to go through a metal detector or have a full body search when she visits NEST.â
His friend shook his head. âYouâre an idiot sometimes.â
âDonât be a dick. Iâve been up for 33 hours.â
Wesker snagged him by the shirt again, the power in one arm almost lifting his friend right off the floor. William covered his face. âNot the face! Itâs still sore from Claire! I told you, I didnât say shit to her!â
Wesker sighed. âYou sure are paranoid today.â The STARS Captain brushed Williamâs shirt off and fixed his tie for him. âI honestly donât care whether you disclosed anything to her or not.â
âI sure hope you know what youâre doing allowing a mole like her to live. I mean, donât get me wrong, sheâs nice and I like her and everything, but I canât risk my research.â
âRelax. Sheâs an asset. You donât have to worry about her. At least for now.â
âEven as sheâs snooping around for Sergei? If he finds out about all weâve doneâŚâ
âItâs in Adaâs best interest to help me over help the Colonel. Trust me.â
William made a face. âI hate when you say that. It gives me anxiety.â
âHave I ever given you a reason to doubt me?â
âNo, but your ploys often put me in stressful situations, regardless.â
Wesker chuckled. âYou exaggerate, my friend. I do no such thing.â
The Golgotha creator folded his arms with a skeptical look. âOh yeah? Then why are you here?â
âI need you to relay a message to the Redfield girl.â
William tossed his arms in the air. âYa see?! Exaggerate my ass, Al!â
Wesker shrugged, frowning. âI suppose you're right. Perhaps you shouldnât relay the message. Perhaps I should dispose of her instead.â
âYes, my thoughts exactly!â
The STARS Captain rubbed his chin thoughtfully. âBut thenâŚthere goes my plan to lure Roth out into the open and identify who he is collaborating with. Such a shame. I guess the Ashfords will get away with stealing our research.â
Williamâs face fell and he soon glared at Wesker. âI fucking hate it when you do that. Fine, whatever, whatâs the message?â
Wesker clapped William on the shoulder so hard, the sleep-deprived scientist half-crumpled with a yelp. âThatâs the spirit, Will.â
William rubbed his shoulder with a grimace. âYeahâŚsure, bud. So, what do I need to tell her?â
The faint smirk that rose on Weskerâs lips reminded him of the Devil. There were times when William thought they were one and the same.
âItâs true, he really said that!â
Jill laughed. âHoly shit. He really has it out for you, doesnât he?���
Chris shrugged. âI donât have a damn clue what I did to him. Iâm only an asshole to him after heâs been an asshole first.â
âSomebody probably just pissed in his cornflakes as usual. Although, the other day, I did hear Marty say he walked by Irons' office while he was talking with the Captain and all he could hear was screaming and cussing and then it got real quiet.â
âTwenty bucks says Wesker told him off. He doesnât like him anymore than we do. He seriously doesnât take any of Ironsâ shit. I donât know how he gets away with it sometimes. I just hope it wasnât about me. I havenât talked to the Chief all week.â
Jill turned down the next road in her car. The snowy suburban neighborhood was quiet and didnât have much traffic. âWouldnât be the first time that Wesker raised hell with the Chief over his treatment of you or any of us for that matter. I wouldnât worry about it. No telling what it was. Those two bump heads all the time. More than likely Irons was already pissed at someone else and just decided to take it out on you. Since he hates your guts anyways.â
Chris snorted. âYeah. Youâre probably right.â He frowned, looking over at his partner as she turned down the road to Chrisâs house. âYou sure youâre gonna be alright tonight?â
Jill glanced at him with a lop-sided smile, reaching over and smacking his shoulder. âIâve worked double shifts just as much as you have, Redfield. Iâll be fine.â
âYeah, I know. Just looking out for you.â
Jillâs cheeks flushed. âThanks, partner. But seriously! How are you going to get any work done tomorrow without me, Barry, or Wesker around? I feel sorry for Enrico having to deal with you, Forest, and Joseph. At least we know Brad and Richard will stay out of trouble.â
âWhat? Weâll get plenty of work done, thank you very much!â
âWesker, Barry, and I made bets on who Enrico will flog first.â
âHaha, real funny. And it will be Forest of courseâŚor Joseph. Eh, doesnât matter. When youâre not there with me, the days are never as good.â Chris quickly cleared his throat, cheeks burning and stumbled on his next words. âA-And if Claire hadnât have here, I wouldâve totally gone with Barry and Robert to the gun convention in Norton.â
âOh so Robert is able to go? Will Emma be staying the night with Moira and Polly?â
Chris nodded. âYeah, apparently Kathyâs going to-â
He stopped mid-sentence, seeing his house coming up, but something was off about it. Chrisâs heart twisted. His truck was in the driveway, which meant Claire shouldâve been home. The house looked fine. But what caught his eye was the fancy, silver BMW parked at the curb in front of his house. Thatâs gotta be the same BMW that Ralph was talking about!
âWhoâs that?â Jill asked.
âPull over!â
âHuh?â
âPull over here.â
Confused, Jill did as she was told, pulling her Mustang over to park beside the curb just down from the house on the opposite side of the road. She turned the car off, looking over at her best friend as he stared unblinking at the house.
âWhatâs going on?â
âYou know how I was telling you Claireâs been acting kinda weird? Well, Ralph told me he saw her get out of a BMW after Claire had told me she drove the truck around yesterday. This has to be the same car!â
âMaybe itâs a friend of hers?â Jill suggested. âI canât picture Claire outright lying to you.â
âMe neither, but thereâs somethingâŚoff about this.â
âAre you sure? It could be harmless and youâre just taking your protective brother instincts too far. Itâs happened before.â
Chris thinned his lips. âI just want to make sure!â
His partner nodded, and they waited patiently in the car, keeping an eye on Chrisâs house and the parked BMW in front of it. Nearly ten minutes of watching and waiting, Chris growing more restless by the minute, the front door finally opened. Chris leaned forward, trying to get a better look. He scowled, feeling a heavy weight drop in his gut. The blond man was tall, slim, and a bit older, in his thirties Chris was sure. And just like Ralph had said, this guy looked like he was a doctor of some sort by how he was dressed.
The stranger didnât stick around. He went straight to his car, unlocking it with a keyless fob, the BMW chirping faintly, and got in. He drove off quickly, a little over the speed limit, and Chris turned in his seat to read the carâs license plate as it left.
Got itâŚ
Chris logged the license plate number away. He could look it up tomorrow at work and do some further investigating into this whole -
âChristopher Lloyd Redfield, stop scheming.â
The STARS sharpshooter snapped his head towards his partner. âWhat?!â
âDonât deny it. I know that look. You better not jump the gun on this just because itâs Claire. Talk to her first. Thereâs probably a logical explanation for all of this.â
Jill had on her âmom glareâ the guys often joked about, but was actually kinda scary. Chris nodded enthusiastically, raising his hands and clearing the squeak from his voice. âAlright, alright. Sheesh!â
Jill slugged his shoulder for good measure and turned the car on. She drove the rest of the way to the house and pulled into the driveway.
Chris rubbed his arm. âDamn youâre mean sometimes.â
Snickering, Jill put the car in park and turned to him. âOh, whatever. You know Iâm right.â
âWell, duh, but you didnât have to mom glare me and call me Christopher.â
She shrugged with a heartfelt smile. âJust getting my point across. Iâm protective of Claire too, but she is an adult. And you two clash all the time over yourâŚover protectiveness. You taught Claire how to protect herself. Sheâs strong and smart. Got a good head on her shoulders.â
âI know that! I just canât help it!â
Jill touched his arm. âI know. And it looked to me that Claire couldâve pummeled that guy easily.â When Chris snorted a laugh, Jill squeezed his bicep. âSee? You agree. NowâŚtalk to her first and go from there.â
âWill do,â Chris said and put his hand over hers on his arm. âThanks, partner.â
He opened the door. Jill playfully glared at him. âTry not to get in trouble without me there tomorrow, alright?â
Chris flashed her a smirk and winked. âNo promises.â
Jill rolled her eyes and backed out of the driveway. Chris waved goodbye and walked to the front door, eager to get out of the cold. He paused as he opened the door, a strange feeling coming over him, one he knew. He turned and looked out to the street, the neighboring houses sitting quietly. Except for the sound of a barking dog the next street over, the neighborhood was peaceful. Normal. But he sure did feel like he was being watched for a moment.
Shrugging it off, the older Redfield sibling entered the house. He found Claire folding laundry in the living room. She didnât look up, dazed and deep in thought. Chris cleared his throat and she snapped to, smiling his way. She continued folding laundry effortlessly as she greeted him.
âChris! Hey! Didnât hear you come in. How was work?â
âHectic,â Chris replied, trying to gauge her behavior. âHowâd your day go?â
She looked away from him to focus on matching socks. âBoring. Just stayed here all day and did some chores for you. Youâre welcome.â
Chris smiled, though it was weak. âThanks, Sis. But you didnât have to.â
âI know. I just get bored sometimes. Your turn to cook though. Just saying.â
Chris chuckled. âAlright. I guess I can do that. Howâs the hand?â
âMuch better!â
Chris scratched the back of his head, unsure how to proceed. Claire wasnât going to say anything. He could tell something was bothering her. His sister was oddly distracted as of late. And Chris had a feeling it had to do with whoever the man in the BMW was.
âSo uh, I saw a man leave here just earlier. Who was he?â He tried his best to sound plainly curious, but he knew his sister would read right through him.
He swore he saw her wince, but she just smiled and sat the socks down and reached for another shirt. âWhat, worried Iâm bringing boyfriends into your house, big brother?â
âIs he a boyfriend?â Chris tried not to panic.
Claire rolled her eyes. âOf course not. Heâs just a friend.â
âWhat did he want?â
The glare he received from his sister told Chris he wouldnât be getting anymore details anytime soon. âJust let it go, Chris. It wasnât what you think it was. Iâd rather not get into an argument over something so stupid.â
His sister reacted just like she normally would in such a case. But Chris couldnât help but feel that something was still amiss. He let it go for now, but he knew he would have to start watching Claire closely.Â
He gave her an apologetic smile. âSorry, Sis. Long day. What say you and me go grab some grub instead? Too tired to cook.â
Claire accepted with her own smile. âSure, Bro. Sounds good.â
He sensed her relief to have dropped the subject. Chris would look up the manâs license plate tomorrowâŚjust to be safe. What are you hiding, Claire?
#resident evil#resident evil fanfic#resident evil fanfiction#Albert Wesker#Claire Redfield#clairexwesker#resident evil 2#ChrisxJill#Chris Redfield#Jill Valentine#William Birkin#fanfiction
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