Resident Evil VIII: Donna Beneviento

A kiss of love

Time passed quickly now since Donna and Alexander became more and more familiar with each other. Donna started to treat him with more respect and kindness. Alexander responded in kind and even let her teach him about the practice of doll making. He even tried to help her out with that but it became quickly clear that he had no talent in that regard. So he would continue doing his chores and only on rare occasions would she call upon him to help her with the dolls.

The only downside was that ever since they nearly kissed, she never spoke with him directly and still used Angie. It was frustrating for Alex, who tried to address Donna directly.

"Donna... why are you not talking to me anymore?" he asked as they were enjoying lunch.

Angie blinked and put her head to the side. 

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No, silly. Why do you ask?"

"You... have been quiet these days. Something on your mind? If you tell me... maybe I can help." he offered, asking carefully.

"I have been busy these days. And today, you will help me with the final preparations." she giggled happily.

"Not like I have a choice, do I? What do you need?" 

"Oh I am not a bad girl, you can stay out of it if you want. But I know you cannot resist. You wanna know what it is all about." she giggled again.

Alexander was surprised that she would leave him alone, but he was indeed curious to know what she had been working on. "I'll bite. What can I do to help?"

"Meet me outside after lunch."

Donna and Angie were waiting for him. Two pots were placed next to her and the plants wrapped in bags. "Take one, I will take the other one." Angie said. Alex did as she instructed. The pots were heavy but thanks to his military training, he was strong enough to carry them both.

Donna lead him to the woods and then up a mountain until he found himself on top of the waterfall. In sight of the cliff were two honorary graves.

They were for Donna's parents.

"Please plant the flowers in the graves." she said and he did. The flowers looked like regular Lavender but the color wasn't purple. It was gold, pure gold. It looked so real. Ad the pollen it spread seemed to glow golden as well. "Now please stay back. I wish to speak to them alone."

He bit her lip before asking. "Are you... sure?"

She nodded. "Yes.... please let me be alone for a moment. " Donna then proceeded to place the doll next to the grave, then waited until he stepped back and pulled up her veil. Since Alexander was standing behind her, he could not see her face. He stood some distance away as Donna seemed to pray and speak to her parents.

Despite the cold, Alex stayed there and waited patiently. He could not understand her very well but he did not want to get closer. Not wanting to betray her trust, he stayed put until she stood up and put the veil back down.

She did not utter a word until they were back in the house. This time it was Donna who spoke, not Angie. "Thank you... for respecting my wishes. I know you wanted to know what I said."

"That is true I am a curious one. It... is nice to hear your voice again."

She blushed under her veil. "Thank you... you have been so kind to me even though you are so unhappy here."

He sighed and shrugged. "A nice and comfy prison is still a prison."

"I understand... I just don't want you to leave. You've helped me out a lot and... there are dangers out there that I want to protect you from."

"You mean Heisenberg and his creations? I can deal with them, I am a soldier."

She shook her head. "A few of them maybe, but who knows how many they are. And what other champions he has."

Alexander snarled with his tongue but she was right. "So even if you wanted to, you wouldn't let me leave. I CAN'T leave. Is this what you are trying to stay?"

A moment of silence fell upon them that felt like it lasted for eternity. She then nervously touched the edge of her veil. "What if.... what if I set you free? Would you stay with me?"

Alex was baffled by her question. "I... I... " He stopped himself and thought. He could leave, sure. But how far would he go? The other lords and that Mother Miranda would not let him leave. And even if he managed to escape what then? No one would believe his story. And Donna would get in trouble, perhaps even killed. Besides, as much as he struggled against it sometimes, he had frown attached to the shy and nice lady.

"I would stay yes. For a long while at least. You are right I would be safer her. And I want to get to know you more."

He heard her sniffing under her veil. "You are so nice to me. I do not deserve it. I... I did terrible things."

Alex bite his lip. "I... I do not know what you did but I see a strong woman who works on the things she loves."

She shook her head. "I am not strong. Out of all the lords I am the weakest one. Not just physically."

Now it was Alex turn to shakes his head and he leaned closer, gently pacing his hands on her shoulders. She flinched slightly. "What you went through.... is truly horrible and I cannot even imagine what dark thoughts would cross my mind if I lose my parents. But you... you found purpose in your life. You survived yourself. You really are strong."

Donna began to cry and fell right into his arms, clinging to him as if she was hanging off a cliff. He held her close and patted her back. "Thank you... thank you...."

"Donna, you are to beautiful to cry. Let me wipe away those tears." he whispered and his hands reached for her veil.

Once more, she flinched. "Don't.... you don't know if I am beautiful."

"Then lets find out. I promise I won't judge you. And you know by now I keep my word."

She nodded and held her breath. He lifted her veil and his heart began to thump wildly until he felt it in his throat. "Donna.... you are beautiful. Gorgeous!" Donna had bright green eyes and her skin was flawless with a porcelain color. Her scar did not made her any less pretty.

His words made Donna cry even more. "Do you really mean that?"

"Yes." he whispered. Their heads were so close to one another... so close. Alexander knew that this woman was still technically his captor, he knew what terrible things she did. Bur right now she was neither a monster nor his master. She was the woman he grew fond of. Slowly, their lips met in a kiss. Donna even dropped Angie as she wrapped her arms around the man she started to fall in love with.