Chris Redfield x Reader

Forty-Nine

"So?", you asked, letting your head fall against his shoulder while your eyes stared into the distance.

"Hm?", he let his head fall onto yours, gently placing a kiss on your hair.

In the distance, the vague silhouette of the village peaked through the land of snow and ice.

"What will we do about this?", you pointed towards the village. "Return? Leave?"

He shook his head and moved so it was easier to sit on the freezing engine hood of the car.

"We can't return. Never.", he said.

With an understanding nod, you touched your throat.

Everything felt normal, the touch of skin to skin contact, limbs, your body. It seemed like you were perfectly normal. Human.

But you were not.

You had expected things to be difficult, since you have been closer to death than ever before. But you would not have expected to turn out the way you did.

"So we just leave? We came here for nothing?", you glanced at him.

Curling his lips, Chris closed his eyes so he no longer had to look at the scene.

"We came here to safe Rose. And Mia."

"What about Ethan?"

He shook his head.

"I fear he is no longer... well...", he carefully glanced at you.

"He's like me. I'm like him now.", you said.

"You'll never be human again. I'm sorry."

"No.", you kissed his cheek. "It's fine. I'll manage. But... if we leave now... everything was useless. I turned out this way for nothing."

He sighed.

"I fear so."

For a moment, you fell silent. You had no words to say, no thoughts to share. For a moment, you just wanted to sit here, in the cold, while holding his hand.

Your thoughts wandered off into the distance. You had never met Mia Winters. The real Mia. Even Ethan had only been a face. There was no personality to it, no accomplishments or a connection.

Chris had been close to him, however, he had decided to turn his back on him. For you.

Suddenly, a question lit up in the back of your head.

"And... what if... What if Miranda doesn't keep her end of the deal? She's a strange creature. Who knows if she is trustworthy.", you asked.

For a moment, Chris was trapped by silence. Then, with a deep sigh, he jumped on his feet, placed himself between your legs and grabbed your face with both his hands. A soft smile appeared on his face. This time, he seemed a bit less sad.

"You don't think I'd give her all the cards, did you?", he asked with a hint of amusement in his husky voice.

Confused, yet a bit ashamed, you tilted your head and gifted him a grin.

"You're always open for a surprise, I know that for sure.", you placed a kiss on his lips. "Share your secret with me, oh, great Chris Redfield, man of the back up plans and escape routes."

This made him chuckle.

The sound was like music to your ears, soft and sincere. You couldn't even remember the last time you had seen him like this.

Finally, he sounded like he was happy. Truly. And despite the decision he had made, he was at peace with himself. Maybe for the very first time in his life.

With an amused grin, he reached into his pocket and pulled out something, that looked a bit suspicious.

Curious, you looked at him, one eyebrow raised.

"A good soldier has more than one option.", he said. "It's a second remote igniter. For the bomb."

For a moment, you didn't understand. Then, your eyes widened in surprise.

"Are you serious?", you asked, a grin of disbelief on your face.

He nodded.

"Dead serious. And it still works."

"But... do you think Miranda has not removed the bomb."

"She did. I'm very sure of that."

"So it's useless."

"Not quite.", he pressed his lips together. "Each member of the squad was carrying a pack of explosives, big enough to blow up the village. They all... they were part of my sacrifice. I'd say it was luck that Tundra died close enough to the Megamycete. If I trigger the remote, her explosives will be close enough to end the job."

For a moment, you just stared at him. You couldn't believe a single word he said and yet. He was brilliant enough to think such things through. And you did not doubt his abilities one bit.

First, you had to laugh. But as realisation slowly came to you, that laugh faded and your face froze.

"You won't use it, will you?", you asked.

His lips twitched. He let out a deep sight.

Taking a huge step back, Chris lowered the remote.

"It's for the worst case scenario.", he admitted. "If Miranda doesn't keep her promise of letting you live long and healthy, I'll get back at her."

You swallowed. Suddenly, your throat felt so dry.

"You could get rid of her right now. At this very moment.", you said, looking at him in a begging way.

Somehow, you still wished for him to make this decision. The decision you had originally chosen for him.

You wanted him to blow this village into the sky.

You wanted Miranda to die, to pay.

But there was hesitation in his eyes.

"I- We don't know if you'll survive when she's no more. I don't know if... if your life depends on hers.", his face formed a pained expression. "Please, (Y/N)... I know you want me to do the right thing, to kill those monsters but... if she dies and... her influence on you is gone... I don't know if you can exist without her."

For the length of a breath, you looked at him.

Why did it have to feel this shitty?

This was not what you have wished for. And yet, here you were, with him.

How selfish you felt.

"You'd kill your friends as well.", you finally said. "Ethan. Mia. Little Rose."

You had to smile mildly, as the memories about the child came to mind. She truly had been a cute one.

A shaky breath escaped him.

"I know.", he whispered. "But what choice would I have? I spared her, because I need you. If she takes that one thing away that keeps me afloat... I wouldn't be able to make a difference between friends and enemies. I'd just... go insane."