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The sun was starting to set as Leon S. Kennedy walked through the White House's main gate, chip heavy in his pocket. It contained vital evidence about the use of bio-organic weapons in Penamstan, as well as the involvement of major political figures. Its release seemed the most obvious plan of action, exposing how major members of the government (like the Defense Secretary Wilson) were involved in biological warfare. Yet, as he approached the exit, he saw a reminder that the choice wasn't as black and white:
Claire Redfield.
By chance, they faced the horrors of Raccoon City together. Whilst he was coming to the city for his first day as a police officer, Claire was looking for her missing brother, Chris. During the outbreak, they also found a little girl, Sherry Birkin, that joined them in their escape. Together, they traveled away from the city, trying to leave behind the destruction caused by Umbrella. However, a issue remained: Chris was still missing. Claire's parting was a short one: many things left unsaid, but a mutual trust remained.
One thing he promised, though: to protect Sherry. No matter what happened, he told Claire he would keep her safe.
It didn't take long for the government to find them.
(1998)
"And if I refuse?"
"You aren't much in a position for refusal, Mr. Kennedy." The US agent replied, calmly. "The girl knows too much. Honestly, it would be much easier to just make you all disappear, but you have value." The agent now smiled, humorless. "This is a good deal. Make your choice."
Without regret or hesitation, Leon closed his eyes. He thought about Claire, and how determined she was to find her brother. He really admired her, she didn't have any training like he did, but still managed to face the horrors caused by bioweapons. He remembered the way she always knew the right thing to say to Sherry, and how tender she reapplied the bandages to his shoulder. Being honest with himself, he probably wouldn't have continued living after the outbreak if it wasn't for her.
He then thought about Sherry, and how the little girl had suffered so much, a lot more than any child should. But she still held on, keeping her curiosity and wonder.
"I accept." He answered.
(Present Day)
"Hey." Claire greeted.
"How's the arm?" Leon asked, trying to mask his concern with a laid back tone. Her arm was hurt during the fight with Wilson and Jason, a few days prior.
"Better." She replied, sincerely. "I had to sneak out of the hospital, though. Had to break the window, climb down some bedsheets..." Claire joked, trying to relieve the tension that was building up.
Leon chuckled. "I thought I told you not to do anything stupid."
"Hello? I am joking." Claire remarked. "When are you gonna stop treating me like a kid?" A bit of irritation bled through her otherwise lighthearted tone.
"Probably never."
A lie.
It was a lie because he never saw her as someone that needed help. He saw what she was able to do in Raccoon City. He remembered the emails they exchanged when she was looking for Chris, and how they would chat about the most random topics. He never doubted in her ability to find her brother. Regardless, the day when she contacted him, talking about how she was stuck in a Umbrella prison facility, changed his perspective.
He hadn't felt that level of panic since escaping the outbreak. Together with the email, Claire also sent information about Umbrella's monitoring of Chris, allowing him to get into contact with the man. He pratically begged his superiors to let him come help her, but they wouldn't budge. They talked about how he still needed to train, and that it wasn't in their interest to involve themselves in the conflict.
It was the first time he realized that what he felt about Claire was something more than what friends felt.
He saw her as an equal, and the concern he showed wasn't that he didn't think she was capable of being independent, it was a genuine worry about her well-being. He couldn't imagine a world without her presence, their encounters at the most random locations, or the late night talks through the phone when neither could sleep.
"Anyways," Claire continued. "about the chip. Do you have it?"
"I thought you called because you wanted to grab dinner." Leon responded.
Another lie.
Although he wished for nothing more than both of them to go to the nearest diner they could find, just to eat and talk about nothing and everything, just like they did after Raccoon City, he knew it wasn't the case. It was part of Claire's nature to investigate and expose the truth, and the chip contained extremely important information about the development of bio-weapons by the government.
Leon took the chip out of his pocket, staring at it.
"I want to make a copy of it, and give it to all the newspapers." She stated. "This thing's gonna blow up, big time."
It would have been easy for him to give her the chip. The only people that knew about it were him, Jason and Shen May, who were both dead. There was no way for the government to know that it came from him. If the information contained there was granted to the press, the public would become aware about what their government was really doing behind the curtains, and the dangers the population was facing.
However, Leon remembered how he had started this job, being blackmailed by his own government, exchanging the safety of a loved one for his own life.
A choice he would make again.
By being the one to release the chip, Claire would essentially be putting a target on her back. He knew what the US politicians involved were capable of, and they wouldn't be satisfied until she was dead.
That was a risk he wasn't willing to take, no matter if she would hate him forever for it.
He rather preffered her hating him and being alive than dead.
"I can't." His voice faltered.
A truth.
"What?"
He stood, silently.
"So that is how it is going to be? You do things your way, and I do things mine?"
He remained still, emotionless.
"Okay. Fine." Claire scoffed.
She turned around and started to leave. After a few steps, she turned back to Leon.
"Like I said before, that outfit doesn't suit you." Claire returned to her path, leaving.
Finally, another truth.