Claire Redfield x Male(!) reader

Part 3

SEVERAL HOURS LATER

Daylight. Probably the last thing I thought I'd get to see again. Claire, Leon, Sherry and I were all walking along this road, I didn't care where to. Leon and Sherry were walking a little way ahead of us, the sun gradually rising in front of them.
"Any idea how long it's been since we left the train?" I asked.
"Maybe 20 minutes" Claire said. "you'd think someone would have given us a ride by now."
"yeah" I said. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a torn bit of Sleeve. It was still stained with blood, though that had dried now. I looked at it and then remembered the last thing one of my friends had said to me.
"any idea what those things where?" I asked
"hey (y/n)" she said, ignoring my question.
"hm?"
"I'm glad I found you..."
I stopped, turning towards her as I did so.
"me too" I said. I smiled at her. She laughed a little, looking at the floor briefly before at my eyes.
"we better catch up" she said.
the two of us began moving on again. As we walked, I put my arm around her shoulder.
"thanks for not dying" I said. I felt her arm go around my waist. We walked like that in silence for a while, watching the sun, before I spoke again.
"hey Claire?"
she hummed in response.
"you still going to the same college?"
"huh" she said "I forgot all about that. I guess so."
I held on to her slightly tighter. My heart started to speed up.
"running away from you on that day was probably the worst thing I ever did." I knew she would understand what I meant. Several seconds went by before she replied.
"that's funny..." she said.
"Claire?"
"The worst thing I ever did was on that day too..."
I stopped walking again. Claire turned to face me. I hadn't even noticed that she still had her arm around my waist. Her eyes glowed up at me, caught in the sunlight. there was a small smile on her lips.
She was leaning against me.
"All it took for me to find that out was you leaving."
She had whispered it just loud enough for me to hear. I suddenly realised that we were so close I could almost taste her breath. I could feel my cheeks heating up.
"What mistake?" I said, quietly. Her other hand rested on the side of my face. I was getting lost in the colour of her eyes again. I pulled her closer.
"that I never did this" she breathed.
She reached up and planted a small kiss on the side of my face. A tear rolled out of my eye but didn't get very far as she wiped it away.
"(y/n), the biggest mistake I ever made was not saying I love you."
I wasn't sure if it was the words she said, or something about what we had just been through, but the sound of her voice in that moment filled my mind with bliss. My heart fluctuated. I almost saw the world light up.
"(y/n)?"
she had a slightly confused expression.
I laughed a little, before moving forwards, pressing my lips against hers. She seemed surprised at first, but quickly leant into it. She wrapped her arms tighter around me, pulling me towards her, even thought there was no more distance to cross. Tears started falling down my face. Our mouths began to move in sync, deepening the kiss. For the first time, all my senses where overwhelmed with her. She was all I could touch, all I could feel, all I could think about, all I could smell, all I could anything. I felt her tongue run along my lower lip, so allowed her access. This warmth flowed through me. A feeling of joy.

Eventually, the kiss ended. I didn't move away though, still holding her, still lost with her.
"you have... no idea how long I've wanted to do that" I said softly.
she laughed a little, resting her head against mine. I saw then that she had been crying too.
"I love you" I said.
she breathed out, smiling again. Both our cheeks were deep shades of red. Claire was giggling every few seconds. Everything about her was killing me.
"I'm lucky" she said. She paused to sniffle "lucky you sat with me all those years ago while we waited for that nurse."
"god, you're beautiful." I breathed. I felt her grip around me tighten.
I kissed her again. There was less desperation this time. It felt good. She did.
when we stopped, she laughed a little.
"we should really catch up."
She motioned her head in the direction of Leon and Sherry.
"Yeah."
I took her hand and let her lead me onwards.
"hey (y/n)?"
she looked back at me and smiled, cheeks still glowing.
"Claire?"
"thanks for not dying..."