So this is it huh? He knew it was bound to happen regardless.
Red painted the white blanket that he laid upon as pain flared from his side. Yet, he didn’t take heed of it. Merely, he gave a sigh of resignation as he felt his body grow colder with each passing second. It wasn’t a question if he would die in the fight against bio-terrorism. It was only a matter of when.
He could have retired, could have just settled down and lived to a ripe old age. Perhaps, he could have watched his dear sister get married and watch her start her own family.
But he didn’t retire. Instead, he chose to honor Piers by continuing to fight in the war against bio-terrorism. But no matter how hard he fought, the war only grew worse. No matter how many bioterrorist organizations he would destroy, many more would rise from its ashes.
But what was worse was that the governments around the world, the very same governments whom swore to work alongside the B.S.A.A. to help them stop all bio-terrorism, would help the very same organizations that threaten to destroy the world.
So long as it benefited them, they could care less. And then when the dealings would come to light, they would pretend and say they have no idea of such dealings.
The same old story told time again and again.
And then Claire died. Killed during an outbreak that occurred in the city she was visiting for a holiday.
She had always come out of those outbreaks alive. She had survived Raccoon City for crying out loud. But he had forgotten that she was only human.
And humans bleed and they die.
In the end, everyone that he loved had all died and left him.
In time, he started to realize that his former Captain was right.
The world was rotten to the core. There was living proof. Those folks he worked with, those whom would smile and promise aid, those were their masks. At the end of the day, they would choose to destroy themselves rather than stop this madness. They would willingly let themselves fall over the cliff all for a small measure of victory against their foes not caring of the consequences of their actions.
The dwindling hope he had was completely extinguished until all that was left of him was a hollow shell of the man that he once was. A jaded man whom hated this very world. But even as he hated the world, he still chose to fight. He didn’t know what else he could do now. He had spent decades of his life in a war that he barely knew what he could do if he chose to stop fighting.
So he left the B.S.A.A to join Blue Umbrella. His reason? Throw himself into the war deeper and make sure to wipe out every single one of them without a damn care of his own life.
Jill had tried to persuade him to stop this crazy mission but he remained adamant on his decision. He even cut all ties he had with Jill, Barry and the B.S.A.A. He didn’t need loose ends in his new life.
He fell deeper and deeper into the darkness where the lines were blurred and where everything was no longer black and white.
He had shot Mia because she was infected. Harsh but it was the only way to stop further infection and spreading of the damn virus even though it broke Ethan.
He didn’t blame the man for shooting him. Hell, he would have shot anyone whom had hurt his sister.
So now here he was. Sprawled on the cold snow inches away from death.
The crack of ice and snow suddenly got his attention and he slowly turned his head to see a person in familiar black clothing walking towards him. The stranger continued to approach him stopping only a few inches away from his side.
“Who…?”
Blinking, his vision slightly clears and much to the brunette’s shock, there looking down at him was Albert Wesker.
“You’re… You’re dead.” Was the Albert Wesker he was seeing right now simply a hallucination that his slowly oxygen-deprived brain cooked up?
“How astute of you to notice that, Chris. But you’ll soon die as well. Mr. Winters got a pretty good hit on you.” The man spoke with a calm tone not once betraying his underlying emotions.
Why does this man, his former Captain, and the one whom he fell for years ago still haunt him? Why couldn’t he just disappear and leave him be? He would have preferred seeing Claire or Piers again.
He probably figured that Wesker was here to gloat of his victory as he bled out in the snow.
“You’ve come to gloat then? Laugh it up then Wesker! Shout out your triumph over me dying at your feet!” Chris yells out, making him cough harshly coating his lips with spatters of blood.
Lowering down onto his haunches, Wesker takes his shades off. Instead of the blazing red eyes that continue to haunt him in his nightmares, Chris was met with the cool blue that he had always found endearing much to his utter shock.
“No. I’m not here to gloat.” The blonde spoke softly.
This confused Chris. “Then… Then why are you here?”
“I figured that you don’t deserve to die alone out here Chris. Not after all that you’ve done. I may hate you for stopping my plans but even I never wished of you falling deeper into the darkness that I was in when I was still alive. And… I hated watching you spiral out of control more and more.”
“I was supposed to be the one that people fear in the dark. The monster that people would speak of in whispers. You were the hero that everyone looks up to. You’re the one that was supposed to save the goddamn world not let it pull you into its depravity.” Wesker grits out.
“I knew deep down it was only a matter of time before you see the truth. That the world truly is rotten to the core. But did I take pleasure in it? No. No I did not.” The blonde says, reaching a hand out and grasping Chris’s hand tight.
Much to the brunette’s shock, Wesker’s hand was warm. He hadn’t realized how much missed Wesker’s touch but now feeling his hand around his, it brought all the old deep feelings he had for the man to the forefront. Even as the years passed and he still hated the man for what he did, a part of him still loved and missed his former Captain.
Call him an idiot but he wasn’t a liar. Even if he tried to deny it vehemently to himself at first.
“I… I was a fucking fool. I should have known.” Chris whispers.
“Don’t apologize. This isn’t your fault. You didn’t know how depraved the world could truly be as much as I do. After all, I grew up in it. I was raised by such depraved people.”
“So now what? I’m going to die, Wesker.”
“…I guess we go back to the beginning.”
“…Back before this whole shitshow?”
“Yes. Perhaps in the afterlife we could have that chance. Or if we are reborn, I would not know. I am a man of science not faith.”
“You believe in such things?” Chris asks, astonished that Wesker would speak of such things. Wesker never struck him as a man who believed in an afterlife let alone reincarnation.
“If this encounter is anything but possible, perhaps it has changed my beliefs slightly.” Wesker says with a soft smile.
‘God, that smile. That damn smile.’ Chris thought as his throat tightened with emotion. He hadn’t realized how much he missed that smile that was only reserved for him back in S.T.A.R.S. until he saw it once more. “I would like that again, Wesker. I just… I just want to live a normal life for the both of us.”
Leaning in, Wesker plants a soft kiss on Chris’s forehead. “I’m glad to hear that.”
The pain by now was long gone and it was getting harder to keep his eyes open. He just wanted to close them and finally sleep. He was tired of fighting, tired of it all.
“I’m so tired, Albert.” Chris murmurs tiredly.
“Just sleep, Christopher. When you wake up, I’ll still be here. Just sleep.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
And with that Chris was able to relax and let Death claim him.
As he watches the brunette close his eyes and breathe out his last, Wesker gently tugs on Chris’s limp hand and from the cooling corpse emerged Christopher. But it wasn’t the haggard, jaded brunette that Wesker watched die before him. No, it was the young, hopeful man that Chris once was.
No longer was there pain in his eyes nor cold steeliness. No longer did darkness swirl in those brown orbs but instead his eyes twinkled with joy, hope and an innocence that once was lost.
“Back to where we started?” Chris asks returning Wesker’s smile with his own.
“Yes. Back to where we started.” He replies and the two head off, slowly disappearing into the snowy night together hand in hand.
I also posted this fic on AO3 but I’m also going to post it here. But the link in AO3 is this: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23853535
He couldn't put why this day just seemed so familiar. It was strange enough, waking up to feel a heavy weight on his chest. A weight seemed to put pressure on his lungs and his heart. Add in that he felt even weaker than usual. He was sure he would never get sick ever again but then the Prototype virus within him had been weakened greatly from his final battle with Chris. How he survived he would never know. All he knew was from what Chris had told him, having found him on the hot barren rocks of the volcano, intact but still covered in burns that were slowly healing.
Instead of killing him then and there, Chris had took him back to the B.S.A.A. to be charged of his crimes. He had expected to be sentenced to death but what would transpire next he would never expect in his entire lifetime. Wesker was never one to believe in a higher power but what Chris did made him question it momentarily. Chris had convinced the Board to spare him by making him the B.S.A.A.'s lapdog so that they could get him to aid in taking down any bio-terrorist forces out there.
There just seemed to be more of them popping out right after TRICELL's fall. With each one destroyed, two more would emerge. It was like dealing with a Hydra. Cut off one head and two more would take its place.
It was frankly getting tiring have to deal with such weaklings. He hated that he had become shackled once more but under a different Master. All his work to free himself from Umbrella only to be trapped and forced to work for the enemy. What a waste.
He figured he should get ready now else Chris comes in yelling for him to get ready and attempt to haul his ass out. Getting up from his bed, Wesker heads to the bathroom in his single bedroom and removing his shirt, letting it fall to the tiled floor. Sighing, he looks into the mirror, staring at the ugly scars on his chest. Memories of an past life, a life he nearly once had with a certain brunette filled his thoughts. It just seemed like a dream. A dream that was too good to be true yet somewhat filled him with a lingering warmth of hope.
Only for Spencer to rip it away.
Flickers of a memory under a table, sterile white walls and sterile air, and him struggling to break free only for him go under. The next memory that came up was of him waking up only to see scars on his pale chest from where they had cut him open to remove the flowers that had strewn through his ribs. And not a single emotion when he saw Chris again.
But it came back again, right after the betrayal. Time and again he would cross the younger man in his path, and the feelings he thought was once lost returned. It had been a daunting internal battle within himself. Should he choose to remove it or keep it? A part of him wanted to keep the memories, perhaps even share what he felt with Chris insane as it sounds because there was no way that Chris would forgive him for what he had done. But another part of him told him to rid of it. That it was a sign of weakness. That he didn't need to be shackled by a love that the brunette would not have for him.
It was a long and struggling battle. But as he watched the world sink further into chaos and learning that he was manufactured from the old bastard, he made his decision then. There was no point in falling for Chris. The brunette would never love him and he wouldn't care if he had died. Plus, he wouldn't want to love something that was manufactured by the CEO of a company that had hurt him personally.
He had grander things to go for. To cleanse this world for one.
So he had Excella ask her most professional surgeons to remove it once more.
He remembered what the surgeon had told him. He won’t be able to survive the third surgery. It would outright kill him.
He didn’t care.
He woke up without a nary of emotion. Once again, all that he felt was wiped clean. Even until what he presumed was his dying breath.
It then hit him. That heavy weight he felt deep in his chest that he recalled in those 'dreams' of his. It was the same feeling he had when the flowers were about to emerge. But why? Why now?
Shaking his head, he goes to get ready for the day hoping he could just ignore it.
He should have known better that he couldn't just ignore it.
Wesker watched from afar as Chris laughed alongside the young man. What was his name again? Ah yes, it was Piers Nivans. It was strange watching them interact. The Piers boy acted so much like Chris back when they were in STARS. Always trying to prove himself to his Captain and just looking up in admiration of Chris. And that look on the younger man's face...
Even though it had been years, he would always know that look. It was the same look of affection, adoration and... love Chris once had whenever he looked at him. It made his chest twinge with jealousy and the heavy weight in his chest intensified into outright pain. So intense and sharp he clutched his shirt right over his heart and clamped a hand over his mouth when he felt something rise up his tightening throat. A phantom memory of what was to come made his feet move, rushing right for the restroom before anyone knew what was happening to him.
He nearly collided into Jill when he did so and before he could stop himself, he started to cough, spurting out bloody white petals with blood trickling down his chin.
Before Jill would have not cared less, but somehow a small part of her still cared for the blonde-haired bastard although she rationalized it to not wanting to explain to the Board in the future why they just lost their greatest asset. So she grabbed Wesker by the collar of his shirt and drags him to the clinic despite his protests.
Even in the clinic, he still protested vehemently on removing his shirt until Jill threatened to knock him out with the serum that the B.S.A.A. had developed capable of knocking out the toughest of B.O.W.s. So he did, and Jill couldn’t help let loose a small gasp when she saw the deep scars etched across Wesker’s chest.
“How many?”
Wesker didn’t dare say.
“How. Many. Wesker?” Jill asks once more firmly.
“Twice.” He said, his eyes averted away from Jill, curling his hands into fists.
“Then you should know that a third surgery will-.” The doctor began to say but Wesker quickly cuts him off.
“I know! You don’t have to tell me.” He grits out, curling his fists harder until his nails dug into his palms that it would leave red welts.
“Do you know whom it is you’re... having these feelings for?” He asks.
Wesker kept silent. But Jill just seemed to know.
"It's him isn't it?"
The blonde-haired man was hesitant but he knew better than to lie to Jill. The woman was intuitive. He nods, confirming her suspicions. “...It is.”
“So both times...”
Wesker couldn’t help but laugh. “Pathetic isn’t it? I told Chris our fates are forever intertwined. I never meant it to be this true or that fate be this cruel. But rest assured Valentine, I'll be out of your hair soon enough. I’m sure you'll be celebrating over my future death now that you know.” He said. Without waiting for her to reply, Wesker then got up putting on his shirt once more and left not wanting to stay around any longer.
Wesker coughed and wiped the blood trickling out from the corner of his mouth, cursing that he had failed to take out the target. It didn’t help that Chris was screaming into his ear about his failure.
“Would you just shut up, Chris!? I get it! I’m a failure! Why I bother staying around is beyond me!”
“You don't have a choice on whether you can just leave the B.S.A.A.! It's because of me that you're still alive so don’t forget who you’re working for!” Chris yells back.
"And here I thought you're my partner." Wesker says, sarcasm dripping off his words.
"You never will be!" Chris shouts, somehow getting incensed and not realizing that Wesker was just being sarcastic.
Hearing the brunette get even more incensed seemed to make Wesker want to poke the bear even more. “Oh, is that true considering we once did work together?”
“You’re not my Captain anymore Wesker! Never was and never will be!”
He didn't know why but it angered him more than he could possibly imagine when Chris said that. It shouldn't. But it did. His plans to poke the bear had backfired on him as he retaliated with equally great fury. “As if!” He scoffs. “Considering you yourself once said that you will always love me!”
“Well I don’t! How could I after everything you did! You’re a monster and if you so much as die, I could give two shits less! For all I give a damn, you would be doing us all a favor if you just die!”
Silence crackled in his earpiece and Wesker figured it was just the brunette trying to catch his breath. If only he knew, he would have seen the look of horror on Chris’s face over what he had just said.
“Duly noted.” Wesker muttered before Chris could even put a word in and shuts off the earpiece. Fine. If Chris wanted him dead, so be it. Its better than telling the younger man what he felt. Damn him if he told the truth, damn if he don't. He was going to die regardless even if he took the surgery.
He just didn't know why he would choose to go down the long, painful road.
Bright lights filled his vision and Wesker blinked trying to get his eyes used to the bright rays, raising a hand over his eyes. It was then he heard a familiar voice speak from right beside him.
“Hey. You’re awake. No, don’t get up. You were found badly injured out there right beside the corpse of our target B.O.W.”
“...What do you want Chris?” Wesker mutters as he realizes that he was on a hospital bed. No doubt in the B.S.A.A's medical bay.
“Hey come on, you need to rest.”
“You don’t need to play nice with me. I got the message.”
“Wesker... look I... how long?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Wesker. You know.” So he saw the scars then. There was now no point in lying to the brunette. Chris may be naïve of the world at times but he isn't stupid.
“...Two and a half weeks.”
“Goddamn it... Why didn’t you say anything?”
“What else is there to say? That I’m going to die? That if I take the surgery, I'll still die regardless? Then you’ll have to explain to the Board why the B.S.A.A.’s lapdog is dead?”
“Wesker wait let me explain-!”
“That you would rather have me dead? I assure you must be celebrating internally that I’ll be dead soon enough along with the rest of the B.S.A.A. which I have no doubt have made its rounds by now.” The blonde-haired man says through gritted teeth, his chest aching even more.
Pushing himself off the bed, Wesker pulls of the electrodes all over his chest off, making the heart monitor by the bed whine out loud. Quickly turning it off, he grabs a shirt off a chair by the bed and dons it. “You don’t have to say anything, Redfield. I got your message loud and clear.” He said before he then left without another word.
It didn’t take long for word to spread around. He could hear the whispers and even saw his son and Sherry watching him as if they expected him to drop dead at any point of time. Any familial connections that could have been formed between them was probably burned off a long time ago. So it was a massive surprise when Sherry sat beside him out on the rooftop where he would escape to whenever he needed some time to himself and was even more surprised when she hugged him.
“I don’t know why. But even after everything, I still care about you. You were there for me when my parents weren’t.” She had mumbled into his shirt.
Wesker swallowed thickly. Even though he would never be going out of his way to babysit children, when it came to Sherry he would do so even if he was as busy as he is. He still cared for the little girl now turned young woman even when he did acted cold towards her. “...I’m not a good man, Sherry.”
“I know. Yet you’re still my godfather. I can’t cut my ties so easily.” She muttered, tightening her grip around his waist. That made his heart twist. Even after everything, she still accepted him.
“I will die, Sherry. Its best you cut ties now. I don’t want you crying over me. I’m not worth your tears.”
“Tough. I’m still going to. How could I not? And don’t think Jake doesn’t care. He does. I mean, you’re the last living relative he has.” She says.
Even though he was labeled as the son of a madman, the boy still cared about him? Even after he had left his mother by herself out of fear that Spencer would use her against him and telling her to never contact him? If only she did, he would known of her pregnancy. But then again, he might not have cared about Jake. But after meeting the young man and watching him from afar, he found himself caring a bit for the boy. Nevertheless, it relieved him that Jake was a better person than he would ever be despite of how stubborn and hot-headed he is.
“...Take care of him for me. God knows he needs someone level-headed around.”
“I will.” Sherry said tearfully.
They sat there on the rooftop until the Sun had set and the stars had dotted the night sky, not knowing of the brunette watching them from the ladder, not daring to interrupt them.
Well. He got his wish. It was either he die by the flowers or in the fight against bio-terrorism. Wesker coughed out fits of blood as the massive B.O.W. whom had once been the head of the bio-terrorist organization they were after slowly crushed him under the palm of his massive clawed hand. Deep gouges and slashes covered every inch of his body, his blood pooling underneath him and growing into an ever larger puddle.
“Look at you. The mighty Albert Wesker, now the B.S.A.A.’s lapdog and dying underneath me. You’re now nothing! I will finally be able to claim that I killed you and I’m sure your B.S.A.A. would not care less.” The monster growled with glee as he puts on more pressure, crushing and breaking more of his ribs and puncturing his organs from the broken pieces of his ribs.
Wesker screamed in pain, clutching weakly at the fingers trying to wrestle them off but he was too weak to do so. He was going to die here, the virus unable to repair the terrible injuries. There were too many and too severe.
“At least...” He huffed. “You won’t see the light of the next day.” He spat.
“What?” Next thing Wesker knew, a bright light hit the monster and an explosion boomed echoed with the dying screams from the beast as he surrendered himself to the darkness.
After he had fired the rocket launcher, Chris had rushed into the chaotic scene and found the blonde haired man, all bloody and barely breathing with a pulse that was barely there. He cried out, cradling Wesker to his chest pleading to him to stay. To stay and fight still. But a part of him knew that Wesker had given up. The words he said weeks ago had done its work. Not to mention that Jill had told him of whom Wesker’s love was and how long he had held it. Twice he held and all for him. The first time forced out of him by Spencer, the second time by his own decision from the files they had managed to compile from Umbrella's and TRICELL's archives which had taken them quite some time.
But once again, it all led to Spencer. Would things have been different if Spencer hadn’t known and forced Wesker under the knife? And even then, what would have changed? He was a coward even back in his S.T.A.R.S. days thinking that Wesker would never love him like he did. And now despite it all, he still loved the man but he was just terrified to confess his love to Wesker. It was no wonder Jill told him then. Even when he tried to move on, there was still his heart holding him back. Piers had known and had broken it off telling him to follow his heart. How could one so young be so wise?
And yet, despite the truth, he still feared the worst. He still feared giving in, telling Wesker only for the man to throw it back in his face. But isn’t it he who is throwing Wesker's love right back in the blonde-haired man's face by not admitting the truth and not the other way around? And now here he is, dying in his arms all because he didn't tell the truth.
“Wesker please. You need to hold on. I... I have so much to tell you. I just can’t live without you!” He sobs. Yet the man in question laid in his arms, a few seconds an inch from death. And then, he heard Wesker breath his last.
A loud scream filled with grief, guilt and sorrow pierced the destruction, a scream that would have made any person in close proximity feel the despair wafting off of it.
"NO!"
Death was peaceful, Wesker thought. He had always thought a hellish fate awaited him but instead here he was floating in a sea of black. Silence filled his ears, not a sound. He couldn't even hear his own breathing. It went on like this for god knows how long. He had lost track of all time. And then a whisper somehow pierced the cool darkness.
“Wesker... you have to wake up. A lot of people here are missing you. Chris included.” The whisper spoke. Why did it sound like Jill?
“Chris... He still loves you but he needs you to be awake when he tells you that. And... he’s coughing up petals too.”
Chris, coughing up petals? This has to be a joke. Wasn’t he happy with Nivans? Wasn't he glad that he was gone?
“Please. Chris... he really needs you. So please, wake up you bastard.”
It had to be a cruel joke. A ghost to haunt him. Yet why did those words sound so sorrowful even with that insult at the end? That certain organ he once thought dead began to beat and he decided he would have to see for himself as a burning hope renewed. He just hoped it was all for nothing.
When he woke up, he found himself back in the medical bay, a breathing tube down his throat and there was Chris sleeping by his bed, his hand clutching onto his. He looked haggard and exhausted, like he hadn’t gotten much sleep at all.
Squeezing Chris's hand woke the younger man up and Chris immediately called for help. Once the tube was gone and they were left alone once more, Chris told him then.
“I love you Wesker. I still and always have. I... I was a fool to say that I wouldn’t care if you died.” He said, sniffling slightly. “In fact, I would have missed you.” He said.
“Chris-.”
“No please. Let me finish.” The brunette pleaded. Clutching Wesker’s hand with both hands, Chris continued, “I cradled you as you died in my arms, Wesker. Your heart stopped. I screamed, I cried, I pleaded for you to come back. I thought I would never be able to tell you how much I still loved you. Funny enough, when they brought you back but you remained in a coma, I started coughing up petals.”
This was just too much to take in. Chris grieved over him? Chris loved him so much that he started to cough up his own petals?
"If you had never woken up or died... I would have followed you. And I honestly didn't care because I felt like I deserved it after what I did to you."
“But now, I have a chance. So I’m telling you this and now. I love you Albert. I always will.”
It was like the world was lifted off of his shoulders. His lungs had never felt more clearer and his heart seemed to pound even more strongly than before. Squeezing those hands back, Wesker for the first time, smiled. Not the cold smile he would put on but a genuine smile.
“I love you too, Christopher.” He said, the words coming off of his tongue with such ease.
He had wondered initially why he had chosen to go down the long, painful path to death. Now he knew.
He just wanted to have the hope that there could be more.
And thank god he went with it. After all, third time's a charm as they say.
The question took Wesker aback that it made him stop mid-work. “What… made you ask such a question, Chris?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I watched this movie and its plot revolved around two lovers from the past reincarnating and meeting each other in the modern era.”
“Didn’t know you were into romance, Chris.”
“My little sister was visiting at the time and she thought it would be a good idea to watch it. I was pulled in to watch it. Hold on, you never answered my question.”
“…I never contemplated it. I have a lot of things under my plate so I don’t contemplate over such meager things.”
“Oh.” Chris started working on his papers again when he spoke up once more, “But let’s just say what if, and it’s a big what if, we do get reincarnated into another life, do you think we would remember each other?”
Wesker dropped his pen then and removes his shades, pinching the bridge of his nose. “What makes you so sure that we would meet each other in this supposedly next life?”
Chris chuckled, “You and I are ‘partners’ remember? Don’t you think we would know if we see each other again?”
This made Wesker smirk and he got up, heading over to where Chris sat and ran his hand through the brunette’s hair. “I’d immediately recognize you if that is what you’re concerned about.”
If Chris was a puppy, his tail would have been wagging hard right now. He beamed at Wesker’s remark and wraps his arms around the other man’s waist, resting his cheek against the blonde-haired man’s firm stomach.
“I would recognize you a mile away too.”
“Is it because of the shades?”
Chris couldn’t help but laugh boisterously. “That’s one part. But I’ll recognize that hair and that face easily enough in a crowd.”
Wesker shook his head. “Good to know.” He says softly.
...
He never recalled that conversation years later, too busy in trying to take down Umbrella and then his next plan on cleansing the world. But as he stood there waist deep in the searing lava, pain wracking throughout his body, gazing up at the man whom he fell for years ago and he still did even if he tried to rid of it he remembered then of that night.
“CHRIS!” He yells out, his red eyes flashing not from anger nor from hatred but from hope. Hope that Chris still remembered that night.
He was going to die regardless. He knew he lost. He was just glad that Chris was the one to finish him off. He would have no one else but him to do the deed. But before he leaves this world, he just needed to know.
The brunette seemed to hesitate, having noticed the look in Albert’s eyes and lowers the rocket launcher down slightly. His heart twisted painfully inside his chest as he knew what the other man was trying to silently convey to him.
To Sheva, Wesker’s yell was a yell full of fury and hatred but Chris knew better. After all, he had loved (and he still did) the other man once.
But to him, it was a call and a question. Of that night that he too had forgotten until now.
He nods discreetly, and he could see Wesker’s features soften slightly. Ever so slightly that to anyone else they would not have noticed it. He could feel the back of his eyes burn and it wasn’t from the heat of the volcano as he finally fired the launcher right at the man ending him.
He would never be able to get over Wesker’s death. All he could do was put up a front for everyone years down the line of his work even though his heart felt like a piece of it was missing.
So when he laid there among the rubble, bleeding out from the iron pipe rammed through his abdomen, he hoped that he would get to meet Wesker again in another life if there was one. He lets the darkness encroaching from the corners of his vision swallow him as flashes of his life with Wesker fleeted through his memories for the last time.
...
A familiar brunette walked down the sidewalk past crowds of people to the café he usually headed to before going to work. Thankfully, it wasn’t too crowded as it usually did at this hour. Stopping at the crosswalk, he looks up from the phone he was scrolling through and freezes.
There on the other side of the street was a recognizable blonde-haired man that once upon a time in a previous life wore shades to hide those pale blue eyes that were now open for the whole world to see. Memories fleeted through his head as he recalled a life before. A life of love, betrayal, sorrow and longing.
As if the man realized the set of blue eyes upon him, the blonde-haired man turned and froze too when he saw the brunette as he was bombarded with his own memories of another life.
As the pedestrian light turned from red to green, the two men quickly rushed towards the other as if they couldn’t long to be apart any longer.
“I thought I would-.”
“-never see you again.”
Leaning in, they clutch the other’s hand and presses their foreheads against each other, smiling softly as tears welled up in their eyes.
Maybe now, in this life, they would have a chance. A chance to be together and heal their broken hearts.
No Spencer. No Umbrella. No bio-terrorists.
Just a normal world where the choices of an insane man and his need to become a god would not have any impacts on their livelihood and they couldn’t ask for more of it.
“Albert.”
“Christopher.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I forgive you.”
“Maybe now-.”
“We can be-.”
“Together.” They both said, pulling back slightly then to kiss the other not caring of the sea of people passing by them.
All that mattered was the person before the other.
Laying out on the couch, Chris stared up at the ceiling wondering how in the hell did he ever get into this situation. Of all the things that had happened to him, this is by far the worst experience he ever had.
The world was now in the grips of a pandemic but not from a virus engineered to be the perfect weapon that would turn the living into the dead. No, it just happened to a virus made from nature and had jumped from animal to human.
And then he and Wesker were suspected to have caught it when they had been close proximity to one person ill with the virus.
So here they were self-quarantined in his home because the hospitals were full and it was for the best else they spread it. Governments around the world had enforced lockdowns and the city he was in was no exception to the rule.
But to be trapped here with Wesker? God, he hated it.
After capturing him and taking him back, the B.S.A.A. thought it would be a good idea to use Wesker as a means to gather information of the other up and coming bio-terrorist groups. Wesker had been fitted with a collar that would shock him with thousands of volts that would outright kill a human. In his case, it would incapacitate him with the virus still lingering his system albeit weaker than it was before.
Uroborous had been burned out of his system so that was a plus at the very least. Still, a slightly stronger Wesker running amok was not in the plans for everyone so they had decided to stuck him with Wesker as they figured an already supposedly sick B.S.A.A. agent could watch him too.
Speaking of Wesker, he heard shuffles and soft noises coming from the other side of the room and turned his gaze to see Wesker watching some video on his laptop with a blanket curled around him.
“You got the chills or what?” He asks.
“I’m fine. It’s none of your concern.” Wesker replies back.
“It is if you’re going to start coughing and sneezing on me.” Chris shoots back. “Honestly, you would think your virus would be the hot shit and be able to beat back a normal virus for once.”
“Chris-.”
“Seriously, it can give you super healing, super speed, strength and endurance, and even enhanced senses but when it comes to a virus that give flu-like symptoms, it can’t even beat that. Your virus is a failure.”
“Chris, shut the hell up before I make you shut up.”
“Then have fun getting electrocuted.” Chris said, daring the man to do it.
Gritting his teeth, Wesker turned his back on Chris turning all his attention on the video not wanting to argue any longer with the brunette.
“…Have you already taken your shot?” Chris asks then.
“I did. You don’t have to concern yourself about me.”
“I don’t. I just don’t want you ending up dead in my apartment because you forgot to take one of those injections for your virus.” Chris says, rolling his eyes. But deep down, he was quite concerned. Despite hating the man, there was a part of him that still cared for the man. He never stopped loving the former Captain and he hated it.
“I’m bored.” Chris mumbles.
“Why am I not surprised?” Wesker scoffs, having heard Chris with his sharp hearing.
“What are you even watching anyway? It’s not about ‘How to Conquer the World 101’ is it?”
Now annoyed and on the verge of losing it, Wesker whirled ready to give Chris a piece of his mind when suddenly there was loud music playing outside. So loud that it boomed all throughout the neighborhood.
“What the hell?” Wesker growled angrily.
“Let me check.” Chris went over to the balcony opening the balcony doors and there he saw the neighbor on his balcony from the apartment across from his playing some loud cheery music and acting as a DJ.
Everyone else had also gone out and some were recording him or dancing to the music.
“Hey hey hey, guys! I know everyone can’t go outside because of this pandemic but that doesn’t mean we can’t party it up here! So have fun!” The man shouts and starts playing the music even louder.
Chris couldn’t help but laugh and decided he should join in the fun. It beat staring up his ceiling all day. He starts dancing on the balcony, leaping up and down as he bobbed to the music leaving a very bewildered and annoyed Wesker.
“Chris, will you get back in here and shut those doors? Its loud and the music is jarring.”
“Sucks to be you I guess. This is the most fun I’ve had in days!”
“Well you can have fun when you shut the damn doors! The music is hurting my ears!” Wesker roars. The loud music was jarring to his hearing and he clamped his hands over his ears trying to block out the music.
Seeing pain etched on the other man’s face, Chris felt a bit guilty and decided to come back in, shutting the balcony doors close behind him.
“Sorry about that.”
Wesker sighed and then got up, letting his hands fall. “You were bored… I can’t exactly blame you for that. You’ve always needed something to do else you go nuts.” Wesker states.
“You… remember?”
“Of course I remember, Chris. You were like this super active puppy bouncing around unless I give you duties.” Wesker said raising an eyebrow to that. He may have betrayed them but he had been their Captain. He knew all of their quirks and habits both the good and bad.
This made Chris blush red in the face and his heart skipping. God, why did he have to be like this? Wesker just remembered yet hearing him say that he remembered him made his insides turn all gooey and filled him with warmth.
“…Do you still have feelings for me, Chris?” Wesker questioned the younger man.
Oh here it comes now. The moment of truth. Wesker would know if he was lying so Chris had no choice but to come clean. Taking in a deep breath, he nods meekly.
“Yes. Even though I still hate you, yes. Yes I still do have them.” He mumbles.
Silence filled the room and Chris felt his palms start to sweat and his heart started to pound as he grew more nervous from the lack of a response from Wesker. He shouldn’t have said anything. But Wesker would pry it out of him regardless.
And then, Wesker took a step closer towards him and leaned down pressing a soft kiss on his head.
“I still hate you too. But… I never stopped. Those pesky feelings… never went away.” Wesker confessed softly.
Chris blinked as he tried to process what Wesker said. Despite everything, Wesker still… cared about him? He couldn’t believe it. Yet, lifting up his gaze at the older man he could see that Wesker was telling the truth in those red eyes. No longer hidden by the dark shades he wore, he could see the honesty in those eyes despite the cold front.
Smiling like an idiot, Chris couldn’t help but chuckle at the hilarity of the situation. “Leave it to a pandemic to make us confess our feelings huh?”
“Shut up, Chris.” Wesker mutters and leaned in this time capturing his lips instead.
Unbeknownst to them, one of the neighbors were recording them and had uploaded this online.
Jill was not happy. Not at all.
“AND THEY WERE QUARANTINED!” She yells to Barry over the phone as she made her way through the hallway passing the two people walking by.
“Oh my god, they were quarantined.” Rebecca said melodramatically to Piers, much to Piers’s bewilderment and amusement, both of them knowing fully well whom Jill was referring to.
Death Doesn’t Discriminate Between The Sinners and The Saints
Chaos. Fire and chaos as the screams of the dying filled the air of this battle-torn city. He could see every inch of the city etched with the burning scars left by the fires almost akin to his own burn scars.
Wesker stared down at the blazing city from the rooftop, his red eyes roaming over the destruction. He had come here when he heard that a rising bio-terrorist group had planned to attack here. Ever since he woke up, he saw fakes and weaklings rise up trying to take over the world.
Yet they didn’t have a clue on how to proceed with their plans. While he only wished to stem the population, these idiots only reveled in the destruction they cause. They wanted to be rid of the living, every single one of them.
So he took matters into his own hands.
He wasn’t as strong as he was before, Uroborous now gone from his system and the virus he had before weakened, but it was still enough to make him slightly stronger than the average human and be able to heal from his injuries in minutes.
The B.S.A.A. always led the hunt against these terrorist groups and he avoided them always, intervening whenever possible but not much.
He wondered what Chris was doing now. No doubt he was in the frontlines still keeping up the good fight.
He didn’t know if he was still angry or glad that Chris did what he did. That virus he had initially injected all those years ago had slowly driven him mad, explaining why he would want to conquer the world. Perhaps stem the population considering the growing problems that humanity was causing but not turning the world into his own personal kingdom.
That was Spencer’s wish. Somehow hearing Spencer tell him he was nothing but a lab rat, it must have snapped his sanity and with the virus only made it worse.
Now, all he wanted was a world that still was alive not dead. There would be no point if everyone on this forsaken planet died.
He heard a loud boom in the distance and looked up to see smoke billowing up into the sky. His sharp vision caught sight of a monstrous B.O.W. as it destroyed everything in its path, swatting military vehicles and armed men alike. It’s destructive rampage destroying numerous buildings in its wake.
He could hear the loud cries of pain and barks of orders coming from the soldiers mixed in with the roars of the B.O.W.
And then his blood froze in his veins. “Captain Redfield! NO!”
He immediately leaped off from the rooftop, landing onto the street with such power it broke the already destroyed street even more, and ran straight for the scene. To those still fighting, he was like a blur and they were left confused as to what had just passed them.
“Captain Redfield! Hold on!” He was getting closer and he turned just as he saw several B.S.A.A. soldiers lift the large piece of concrete off.
His heart stopped when his eyes caught the sight of a bloodied and still Chris as he sat amongst the pile of debris. He had been crushed when the B.O.W. swung and shattered the building catching Chris in its wake.
He took a step forward and then another. And then another one. And then he was running. He didn’t care to hear the loud gasps coming from the other men as he fell onto his knees, grabbing Chris’s shoulders and shaking him.
“Stay awake, Chris! Don’t you dare die on me!” He yells.
“W…Wesker?”
“Stay with me, do you hear me!?”
Chris was stunned to see Wesker alive but covered in hideous burn scars and what was even stranger was the blonde-haired man telling him to keep his eyes open. Shouldn’t he be celebrating that he was dying?
“W-Why do you care? Didn’t you want me dead? You’re getting your chance now…”
“That was different! I was different! I never wanted you dead, Chris.” Hurt him perhaps but never dead. Because a part of his supposedly cold, dead heart still cherished and loved the brunette. Even if he hadn’t realized it back then, his heart which he thought he never had still beats so long as Chris was alive.
“I… I love you. So please, stay awake.” Wesker pleads softly. Chris’s eyes widened in shock at the soft admission. Even after everything, Chris still held feelings for the other man but he kept them under lock and key thinking Wesker would never reciprocate it ever again ever since the man’s betrayal and after he was supposedly died there would be no such chance.
But to hear it now, it brought tears to his eyes. “I’m sorry… I’m tired.”
“Chris, Chris don’t you dare leave me!” Wesker shouts. “Don’t go where I can’t follow you.”
“I… I love you still. Despite everything that has happened, I still love you.” Chris murmurs, getting weaker and weaker as his strength started to leave him.
Darkness encroached from the corners of his vision and he knew this was it. “Christopher!” Wesker screams, horrified as he saw the life leave out of Chris’s eyes and heard the thuds of the younger man’s heart stop.
“Chris… Chris stop fucking around. Wake up. WAKE UP!”
But the brunette never did and never would ever again. Clutching his head in disbelief as tears filled Wesker’s eyes and streamed down his face, Wesker threw his head back and screamed out his grief and sorrow.
This couldn’t be happening. Chris was supposed to live, supposed to survive this. Why now? He felt like a failure not being able to save the brunette, his heart torn out of his chest knowing that Chris was now gone forever.
Leaning in, he pulls the brunette close and kisses the top of the younger man’s head. As he hears the roars of the B.O.W. that took Chris away from him, Wesker’s rage started to grow until it was a great beast howling to be unleashed.
Setting Chris back down, Wesker then got up and turned to face the beast.
With a loud animalistic scream full of grief and rage, all he saw was red.
Red as bright as Chris’s blood that adorned his body.
Red as dark as the creature’s blood spilling out of its body.
Red as the fires that continue to blaze in the distance.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
…Why did he have to be one to keep on living?
Why when the only person that ever mattered to him has died?
It wasn’t supposed to end like this. John knew he was in big trouble the moment he ended up hiding under cover from the heavy gunfire aimed right at him. He shook his head wondering how he let his arrogance get to his head. He was supposed to be better than this, better than a reckless idiot who runs straight into enemy territory. His Captain taught him better than that.
And yet, he managed to throw every single training drilled into his head out the window.
Once the gunfire quelled down, he peeked slightly around the corner of the wrecked house he was hiding behind only for a bullet to end up embedded in the brick wall a few inches away from his head. “Goddamnit.” He curses under his breath. This was bad. He couldn’t get out lest he get shot up but he would end up killed if he stayed around here.
Essentially he was trapped.
Suddenly, his radio crackled to life and he heard the familiar voice of his Captain yelling out to him. “John! John, tell me of your position now!”
“I’m hiding behind a house just three blocks away from the town square! Right in front of a fountain!”
“Hold your position there! I’m getting you out of there!”
John balked. Get him out of this mess? That would be impossible! “What? Captain, you’ll get killed! Just go and get the others out of here!”
“I told you, John. I will never leave any one of my team behind to be killed! Ever!” The radio then went dead and John just knew. His Captain was coming to get him. And he felt a glimmer of hope as well as a sense of dread. Why did he feel things were about to go south?
He bunkered down, checking his ammunition. He only had a couple of rounds, just enough to help make his escape when the Captain came to get him but not much more than that. It felt like forever when a hand clamped down on his shoulder, and he whirled ready to slam the butt of his rifle into whomever grabbed him but stopped just short when he saw it was just the Captain.
“Easy, John!”
“Captain!” John exclaimed, stunned to see the man before him. He really did it. He actually came back when he should have just left and not risk his life for him.
“I told you I’m getting you out of here, John.” Cliff said, noting the surprised look on the soldier’s face. “I made a promise to all of you that I will never abandon you even when things go south.”
“You shouldn’t! You could have gotten killed on the way here! You shouldn’t be risking your life for me!”
Cliff shook his head. “You’re one of us and I never leave anyone behind. Not now, not ever.”
John felt his heart skip a beat at the Captain’s words. If he knew one thing about his Captain is that Cliff never broke his promises. Heart fluttering, he gulps.
God, this is probably why he fell for the man hard back then even if he swore he would never tell the Captain of his true feelings.
“Come on. Let’s get going.”
“But where? There’s too many of them!”
“I managed to sneak in behind their lines through this alley. It’ll lead us to the desert and from there our getaway vehicle.”
John nods, trusting the man. “Lead the way Captain.”
John followed the man’s lead, ducking low and sneaking out. It seemed like everything was going to go smoothly and that they would end up escaping from this nightmare.
That was until the last second when neither men didn’t see the enemy coming around the corner then.
The crackle of the gun echoed in John’s ears too late and he was suddenly barreled over by the Captain to the ground. He heard the Captain grunt as he lands on top of him and John cried out in surprise and pain. Seeing the man aiming his gun at them, John quickly fired at the man taking him down then.
Scrambling out from under the older man, John quickly checked the man for any injuries. “Captain! Captain Unger, are you al-?” John’s eyes widened when he saw the blood rapidly pooling underneath his Captain’s shirt and saw the red liquid on his trembling palm when he pulled his hand back.
Clamping his hand back again over the wound, John quickly pulls the older man up, apologizing when he heard the man grunt in pain. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” He cries out, pulling Cliff’s arm over his shoulders and started for their getaway vehicle as fast as he could.
Putting his Captain into the truck, John runs over to the driver’s seat and starts it, pressing on the gas as he drove them out of there. Radioing for back-up, he gives them their location urging they hurry up. Once he had driven quite far enough, he stops the vehicle and starts to look after his Captain.
Clamping his hands over the man’s wound, John pleads to the Captain to hold on, trying to stop the bleeding but the red liquid keeps on seeping through his fingers in red rivulets.
“Hold on, Captain Unger! Back-up is on the way!”
Cliff coughs out blood, merely smiling through the pain. “I’ll be fine John.”
“God, this is what I was worried that would happen!”
“Like I... said... I... never... leave my... men... behind.” Cliff wheezes out, getting paler and weaker as he continued to lose blood.
“Captain. Captain hold on!”
“You’re... going... to... go... home... John.” Cliff manages to mutter out as his eyes shuttered close.
“Captain?” John quickly checks the man’s pulse, his heart dropping to the ground when he barely felt it.
“CAPTAIN!”
——————————
Sitting by the bed of the man laying prone and still, John stared down at his feet, his hands clasped tight together as he prayed to a God he didn’t believe in, hoping that his Captain would pull through.
It had been too close. Way too close.
When the helicopter had come to pick them up from that hellzone, the Captain’s heart had stopped beating. He had to watch as the medic team worked on Cliff as they tried to bring him back from the dead.
For a moment, he thought this was it. He was going to watch his Captain and the man he fell for die before his very eyes and it would be his fault.
They had managed to bring him back then just as he was about to lose all hope. Only for them to lose him another two more times. One time on the flight back to base and the other in surgery.
The surgeon had told him that the bullet had nicked his heart. Another inch to the left and he would be done for. Talk about miracles.
Still, this wouldn’t have happened if he had listened to his Captain and not run in thinking he was some sort of an action hero.
The slow beeps coming from the heart monitor told him that the Captain was fine and alive but an irrational part of him feared that it would stop at any moment. Just then, he heard the sheets rustle and he looks up, reaching a hand forward and gripping the Captain’s hand as he watched Cliff slowly wake up from his slumber.
“Hrm... John?”
“Its good to see you awake Captain. I... I’m glad you’re back.” John said, guilt still eating at his soul.
Taking in a deep breath, John exhales shakily. “You died, Captain. Three times to be exact.”
“John-.”
“You. Died. Captain. At this point, don’t you think its better to just leave me out there instead of dying because of my idiocy? Or why don’t you just kick me out? It would be better for everyone including you!” John said, ripping his gaze away from the Captain’s face back to his feet as he pulls back letting his hand go from the Captain’s hand, too ashamed to look at the the older man in the face.
“You took a bullet for me in the heart! Another inch and they would not be able to revive you!”
“John-.”
“Why do you still keep me around, Captain!?” John demanded, his eyes burning with the onset of tears as his throat tightened with guilt.
This was it. This was the moment his Captain would see sense and kick him out.
Instead, he was shocked when he felt the Captain’s hand on his head.
“John, I told you, you are one of my men. One whom I personally trained. You were caught out in an ambush. You wouldn’t have known.”
“But I shouldn’t have run ahead!”
“John. What you consider is idiocy, I say its your judgment and I trust you to use your judgment on the battlefield. You thought it was all clear so you went ahead. Nobody not even I knew there was an ambush in waiting until it was too late.”
“I trust you John. And I am willing to take a bullet for you no matter what.”
John raised his head unable to believe what he had just heard. “Y-You must be mistaken.”
“Its no mistake.” Cliff said, shooting the younger man then his gentle smile that always left John’s heart fluttering.
“A bullet to the heart is nothing if it meant that you would live.”
John this time couldn’t stop the tears escaping and he wept, not realizing that Cliff had pulled him into a hug as he continued to cry into the older man’s shoulder. He wasn’t worth it. He wasn’t. Yet, hearing what is the closest thing to a confession of the older man’s feelings for him made him want to soar. He would continue to improve in his skills and be the best and most loyal soldier that the Captain would ever see.
He would not fail Captain Unger, not the man he loved. This he swore.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Cradling the gun in his hands, John couldn’t erase the image of his former Captain dead on the floor, two bullet holes through the older man’s chest over where his heart was.
The same spot where he took the bullet meant for him all those years ago except this time it was him that shot those bullets into the man’s heart, not any enemy force.
He failed.
He was a joke of a soldier. A traitor. Loyalty. Hah! Unlike Cliff, it shows that he was the one capble of breaking promises. He couldn’t save his former Captain and the man he still loved all these years because of his decision to follow President Strand. Even worse, the Captain’s son dead because of him. Only thanks to Amelie did the Captain’s son come back to life. A second chance for the child. Yet, it shouldn’t have happened. This shouldn’t have happened at all.
But he made his bed and now he has to lie in it. Tears rolled down John’s face and his frame started to tremble as he sobbed his heart out, letting the guilt, regret, grief and self-hatred swirl freely in his heart.
He truly was the cause of his Captain’s bleeding heart.
So this is more of the adventures of Porter!Cliff and his small family. This is just tooth-rotting fluff and I’ve had this idea since I watched that video in which someone built a ski resort inside Death Stranding. I’m dead serious. Somebody actually built a ski resort inside the game.
Here’s the link to said video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnJMElfDItc&t=1s
Hope you’ll enjoy it!
Peering down over the side of the snowy mountain from the top of the peak he was, Cliff sighed feeling his muscles ache from the climb up to deliver the packages one of his contractors wanted. Looking over his shoulder, he watches his sons run around in the snow, tossing snowballs at each other, and laughing without a care in the world. Sometimes, he wished that he could still have the youthful energy they had but aging over the years hadn't been so kind on his body.
At least he could still move and for a man his age, he was still agile enough. All that training in the army helped him in traversing the rough terrain of this country to deliver packages as a porter and gave him a slight advantage. Still, he was a human being not like those superheroes he remembered reading from graphic novels that he used to own.
It was a long walk up the mountain, having taken them about an hour and half to reach the summit and no doubt if they were to go down, it would take about the same time. Looking over at the empty floating carrier that he had brought with him, it then that he got an idea.
With a big grin, Cliff calls the boys over then. The boys quickly joined by their father's side, wondering what their father had in mind now.
“What is it, Dad?” Sam asks.
“Yeah, what is going on?” Higgs asked then.
“I got an idea. What do you boys think of sliding down this mountain on the floating carrier instead of walking back down to the bottom?”
This got the boys very excited. “Yes! Yes please Dad!”
“Let’s goooooo Pops!”
“Alright alright! Just let me get onto the carrier first.”
Once Cliff stepped onto the carrier and made sure the cable connecting him to the carrier was secure, he beckons the boys to join him. Cliff then lets Sam and Higgs clamber up on him and wrapped their arms around his neck and their legs around his waist. Cliff then secures them by wrapping his arms around them and holding them tight against his sides, making sure they were secure and not bound to fall off during their journey down.
“Ready?” Cliff asks.
“Yes!” Both boys exclaimed.
“Here goes!” Cliff shouts, giving a kicking start and lets gravity push the carrier down the side of the mountain.
The cold winds whizzed past them as they slid down the snowy mountain, their laughs full of happiness echoing throughout the mountains. For a moment, they were able to retreat to a world where there were no BT’s threatening to hunt them down or any packages needing to be delivered. A reprieve from the harsh world itself as they let loose their stresses and exhaustion.
Even Lou was laughing inside the pod enjoying the ride as much as her family.
But then, Cliff noticed that a snowstorm brewing in the distance and was quickly coming towards them. Not wanting for them to get caught in the middle of a snowstorm, Cliff used the Odradek to scan the terrain for any shelter. That’s when he saw there was a cave just to the right of them. Steering the carrier to the right, he heads for the cave and manages to reach it in time just as the snowstorm came rolling over.
The man blew out a huge sigh of relief then. “That was too close.” Cliff said.
“But it was fun though!” Higgs beams happily.
“Could we do it again after the snowstorm is over?” Sam asks.
Cliff laughed boisterously and nods. “Of course. For now, we’ll have to stay here in this cave and wait for the storm to blow over.” Letting the boys hop off of him, Cliff then drops his bag to the ground, taking out a large, thick blanket that he had packed for the climb. He was glad that he had trusted his instincts to take it just in case. Taking the blanket and with the boys following closely behind him, Cliff then takes a seat against the wall of the cave unfolding the blanket then.
Sam and Higgs then came over and sat right in front of the older man before Cliff then draped the blanket over all of them.
“You boys warm yet?” Sam and Higgs nodded and leaned back, resting their heads and backs against their father's side, avoiding the pod as they didn’t want to crush poor Lou, and watching the snow falling heavily outside their temporary shelter.
It was quite difficult for the boys and Lou to be able to fall asleep due to the howling winds so Cliff decided to do the one trick that could get the kids to sleep.
He started to sing the lullaby he would sing to Sam back then even before he was born, the same lullaby that helped calm Higgs down from a nightmare after Cliff had adopted him, and the same lullaby that soothed Louise when she was getting too stressed.
“See the sunset.
The day is ending.
Let that yawn out.
There’s no pretending.
I will hold you.
And protect you…”
Cliff continued to sing the lullaby watching the kids as they were slowly lulled to sleep.
Lou yawned, content and warm under the safety of the blanket and she slowly fell asleep to Cliff’s steady heartbeat and soft singing. The boys too slowly fell asleep, the adrenaline leaving their systems and their exhaustion from their earlier climb returning making them drowsy. Add in the lullaby and they were slowly lulled to sleep.
Cliff kept watch on his children sleeping away and only then did he stop singing. With a fatherly smile on his face, he presses soft kisses on the top of his sons's heads and strokes the pod in which Lou was housed in gently, before then pulling the blanket tightly around them, his arms wrapping around the boys’ shoulders and embracing them protectively against his sides as he kept watch of the storm waiting for it to finally blow over.
For a moment he was at complete peace, the mission that he had been sent out in the first place temporarily forgotten.
For now, all that mattered was his family right here and now.
They say that when one’s soulmate dies before their time, the Universe will go about to ensure to correct it. That the Universe is fair and will replace that lost soulmate with another. For humans can never live alone. To live alone was to wither and die, a first death before they were laid to rest and their souls would join the stars above.
And so when Cliff lost his wife, the Universe got to work.
John remembered when he had met the man whom would become his Captain. At first, he had been concerned that the man would be a jerk and just a terrible leader like a few of the squad leaders he had been under.
To his astonishment, the Captain was a respectful, kind and yet stern man. He made him feel as if he was part of a larger family, and that bond would continuously grow whenever they would go into another death-defying mission after mission surviving by the inch of their skin. They were all comrades and then suddenly one day, John started to fall for him. Hard.
He hadn’t dare say anything, fearing that it would ruin his relationship with the Captain and he didn’t even know if the Captain ever held feelings for a man. John had relationships with women and men before but as for his Captain’s love life, he had no clue and he didn’t dare risk it.
But even though he kept his feelings for the Captain to himself even after the war was finally over, his relationship with Cliff started to fall apart. They didn’t fall out on terrible terms no. It was just Cliff met the love of his life and slowly but steadily they stopped hanging out especially when Lisa got pregnant.
It did hurt but he did not mind. In fact, he was happy that his Captain and wife were happy and ready to start a family. It was unfortunate that they did fall out of touch. The last he heard of them was that Lisa was already 14 weeks along.
Only for fate to bring them back together again but in the worst circumstances possible. During the time he had lost contact with Cliff, he had been hired to be a bodyguard for the CEO of Bridges, an up and coming biotech company. Cliff however would be going through the worst days of his life.
John never expected to meet Cliff and especially in the ICU unit of a Bridges hospital. Worst, he never expected to see Lisa brain dead on the bed hooked up to all sorts of tech courtesy of Bridges keeping her alive. “Captain…”
Cliff, whom was sitting by his wife’s bed, looked up and nearly did a double take when he saw the former soldier. “John?”
“I-I came as soon as I heard. I didn’t know.” John said, walking around the bed. Sorrow filled his heart when he turned to look at Lisa then back at the grieving older man. “I’m so sorry.” John murmurs, placing a hand on Cliff’s shoulder and squeezed letting the man know he wasn’t alone anymore.
“They say she’s never going to wake up. And my son… so far he’s fine.”
Cliff then got up and without a word, pulls the man into a firm hug. “I can’t… I can’t lose my son too, John. Lisa… I’m hoping she can still make it but I don’t know anymore… I can’t lose him too.” He chokes out, gripping onto the younger man as if he were his anchor in this terrible storm that he was trapped in.
“Bridges are doing their best. He’ll be fine.” John says, trying to reassure the man. He prayed so too. God, what had his Captain done to deserve this?
Cliff couldn’t speak, his composure breaking down as he wept, grief engulfing him as he remembered his dear wife whom laid on the bed brain dead but only kept alive by these machines and his son in the neonatal ICU kept alive inside the incubator. As much as he hoped that his wife would recover, he knew deep down there was nothing he could do to save his wife. He only prayed his son would pull through.
28 weeks. He was too early and too young to be out in this world right now. But it had been a matter of life and death. The doctor and the medical staff had to perform an emergency C-section lest Sam dies with his mother. When the doctor had let him in and he saw his son for the first time, he cried seeing how vulnerable his baby son was. He swore then that he would be there for him and for his mother no matter how long it took and how hopeless it seemed to be. He wouldn’t give up on any of them.
Still, the stress from today and the grief and anguish filling him was just too much even for the hardened Captain.
“He’ll pull through.” John murmurs, tightening his arms around the Captain.
--------------------
When John came to visit the Captain again a few days later, he learned from the receptionist that the man was in the neonatal ICU and his heart went to his throat. Dread filled his chest and when he ran into the neonatal ICU, his worst nightmares were confirmed.
Cliff was in a state. He was sobbing uncontrollably leaning over the incubator in which his son was kept in and when he saw the younger man, he had nearly bowled into John and buried his face into the man’s shoulder shaking from head to toe.
“What happened, Captain? What’s going on?” John asks, bracing himself for the answer yet dreading it at the same time.
“S-Sam… the doctor told me that his condition has deteriorated, John. H-He may not make it through the night.” The older man sobbed.
John couldn’t bear to see his Captain so broken and just engulfed in great anguish and sorrow. It wasn’t fair for his Captain. He’s a good man, an upstanding Captain, a loving husband and a great father seeing from how he was doing his best to take care of both his wife and his prematurely born son whom was now dying.
Looking over Cliff’s shoulder, John just wanted to cry seeing how many tubes were running in and out of the small baby inside the incubator. It was just heartbreaking even for him and he wasn’t even a father.
Still, if this child has a part of the Captain, he had an inkling that Sam wouldn’t be giving up without a fight just like his father never gave up on saving him and his squad whenever they were caught in a pickle in the many missions they had gone through.
“Don’t give up yet, Captain. If Sam is anything just like you, then he isn’t one to give up without a fight.”
John pulls back then, holding the Captain by his shoulders. “Don’t give up now, Captain. I know you. You’re not one to give up not in battle and not now. I’ll stay here by your side to help you keep an eye on Sam and support you throughout this ordeal.” He says. John wasn't planning on leaving and abandoning the Captain. Cliff had always saved him. Now it was his turn to return that debt.
“I… I appreciate it, John. You have been a great friend. I… couldn’t ask for a better friend from you.” Cliff murmurs, wiping away the tears from his eyes.
“Come on. Let’s go and take a seat by the incubator. We can keep an eye on Sam then.” John suggests, gently steering the man towards the chair by the incubator. Getting another chair, John drags it over and takes a seat then right beside Cliff.
Placing a hand over the Captain’s shoulder as a means of supporting the older man, both Cliff and John kept watch the entire night over little Sam, their hearts racing and worrying for the boy’s life but still holding a glimmer of hope that he could pull through.
And he did pull through miraculously.
As for Lisa… unfortunately miracles can only last for so long.
Thought I might share my thoughts about your John/Cliff fanfiction, I red at 4AM like every responsible adult would. 'You were the gun' and 'why don't you hate me?' are great and moving lines, also, I absolutely love the fact that John mentions Sam and Lisa few times because caring about everyone is so in character of the kind soul he is. I don't even like the ship, red this out of boredom and I'm not disappointed. Great work, good portrayal and have a happy day!
Hi! Oh dear I hope you’re okay with a few hours of sleep!
Thank you so much though for your kind words! It really means a lot to me and I’m glad you enjoyed it! Have a good day to you too!
Just a bit of hurt/comfort plus fluff for Cliff and his kids!
Cliff coughed long and hard as he curled up on the bed in his Private Room with his head aching as if someone was slamming a sledgehammer into his skull. Feverish and shivering terribly with the chills at the same time, Cliff wraps his arms around himself trying to retain as much warmth as possible.
Trekking through the snowy mountains wasn’t exactly an easy feat and he had spent out in the cold longer than he would have preferred. Thank god he didn't bring the boys on this delivery. Instead, he had told the boys to stay inside the distribution center and explore then. Lou meanwhile had to come to help him track any BT's he may come across. Thankfully, she wasn't too stressed albeit a bit tired so he lets her recuperate in the synchronization incubator when he finally made it back.
She was out like a light the moment he hooked her up to the incubator and he couldn't help but chuckle. And then that's when he started to cough.
Hours had since passed and he could still feel his head throbbing as the fever raged within him. He still felt horrid as ever if not more even after taking a hot shower and getting dressed in clean clothes, even grabbing a blanket that he could curl up under. The boys were thankfully still out playing and he'd rather not let them get too close to him else they get sick. As he laid there on his side, he wondered if he could just ignore whatever is making him sick. But he decided that would be a terrible idea. If he were to go out and collapse, the boys and Lou wouldn’t be safe.
Deciding then that he should get this looked into, he pulls up the cufflink and reattaches the other cuff onto his wrist, activating it and then proceeds to call up Deadman.
“Ah Cliff, I was just about to call you. Your vitals weren't up to par and I wanted to see if you were alright.” Deadman said.
“Yeah… I’m just feeling like shit right now. I may be coming down with a cold but I was hoping that you could diagnose me of it. Make sure it’s nothing serious.”
“Of course! Let me just use Fragile’s Umbrella to get over there. I’ll be there in a few minutes since I need to bring what I need necessary.”
“It’s fine. Just take your time.” Cliff muttered as he went to lay back down on the bed, pulling the blanket over him in an attempt to keep warm.
He hadn’t realized he had dozed off when he was woken up by Deadman. “Cliff. Sorry, I must have taken a bit too long.” Deadman apologized.
“N-No its fine.” Cliff says, coughing then once more.
“Hmm, you look terrible. Pale, bags under your eyes and sweating. Let me check you over. Could you please remove your shirt?”
Cliff obliges, removing his shirt and tossing it to the side.
Deadman then hooks the stethoscope into his ears before slowly placing the bell onto the chest and listening to his patient’s heart and lungs. “Take deep breaths please.”
Cliff did so. After a few heartbeats in between, Deadman then checks his temperature and finishes up the rest of the checkup. “Well, it’s clear that you have a cold and running a fever. All you need to do is drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest. No delivering cargo at all!” The man said sternly.
Cliff nods, relieved that at least he didn’t catch anything serious or lethal.
“Not planning on it. I just wanted to make sure that it’s not something that could kill me.” The silver-haired man muttered as he puts on his shirt once more.
“I’ll give you some medicine to help you recover faster. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Get some sleep, Cliff. You really look you do need it.” Deadman said and he then disappeared in a flash as he was transported back to Capital Knot City.
With that said, Deadman made his departure and Cliff then fell onto his bed, sighing. He still felt terribly awful but at least he wasn’t dying. A cold isn't exactly the worst he had ever been through. Just... annoying.
He was about to doze off once more when the door to his Private Room opened and he heard the rapid footsteps that came thudding in. “Pops! Look what we got.” Higgs exclaimed holding several cans of energy drinks in his arms with Sam also holding a large amount too with a deadpan expression on his face.
Cliff was about to tell them that they couldn't drink those when he started to have a coughing fit, shocking the two boys.
“Dad? Are you okay?” Sam asks worried and getting a bit scared when he noticed then how pale and sick his father looked.
Cliff nods, his coughing fit dying down, and shoots his son a reassuring smile. “Just a cold, Sam. I’ll be fine.”
Now Higgs was getting concerned too. “You sure, old man?” Of course Higgs tried to sound brave but after what had happened with the terrorists and how close he and Sam were to losing Cliff... The fear started to well up inside both boys and Cliff noticed how they were slightly trembling.
“I’m fine, you two. Come here.”
The boys quickly dumped the cans on the table and clambered onto the bed, curling up and pressing against Cliff’s side. Cliff didn’t want them to get too close as he was afraid that he could spread the cold onto the boys but he knew when the boys were like this, there was no stopping them from curling up close to his side.
Not since his ‘death’ from a punctured lung.
Looking over his shoulder, he checks on Lou one more time to see if she was sleeping. Satisfied that Lou was still asleep, Cliff then turns his attention back onto the boys. Grabbing the blanket, he drapes it over himself and the boys, letting Higgs and Sam burrow closer against him, both of them grasping onto their father’s clothes so tight that Cliff knew it would wrinkle his shirt but he didn’t care.
“It’s okay. I’m going to be fine, you two.” Cliff murmurs.
“Are you sure?” Sam whimpered.
“Yes. I’m sure.”
“You better not lie to us, Pops.” Higgs muttered, his voice shaky with fear and worry.
Cliff strokes the top of Higgs’s head and then Sam’s. “I’m not. I called Deadman and he told me its just a cold. He’s just getting some medicine for me right now.”
“Get some sleep, you two. It’s been a long day.” Cliff mutters, trying to stop himself from coughing so as not to spread his cold on the kids.
He felt Higgs and Sam nod against his shirt and slowly, they fell asleep. Once Cliff was sure they were asleep, he too then dozed off. When Deadman came back, he couldn’t help but chuckle seeing the dogpile on the bed.
Not wanting to disturb the porter, his sons and Lou, Deadman quickly but quietly sets the medicine on the table and then leaves letting the small family get some rest.
So uh, this is all thanks to @allysonshute ever since she commented in that one post regarding Cliff and Sam reuniting and getting to meet. Hope you all enjoy it!
It had been on his mind for some time. Ever since he met his father and watching him getting gunned down by Bridget, Sam just wanted to know more of him. Wanted to ask him about his life and his mother’s. Wanted to know why he did what he did. But the man was dead and had moved on. He had given him closure.
Yet as he looked down at the dogtags that Cliff had given him, Sam wondered. Is it still possible to go visit the man at his Beach? After all, Deadman and the others were able to get him back from the Beach thanks to the gun that bound his father to Die-Hardman and Bridget.
He hadn’t tested out if he was a repatriate yet ever since Amelie closed off her Beach from theirs. But the presence of people still with DOOMS gave him a hunch that perhaps he still was. Perhaps he could still reach Clifford’s Beach and with the micanga that Fragile gave him, she could take him out. He figured that Cliff would also want to see Louise considering their last and final interaction in that thick jungle so he decided to take her as well. Picking her up from the crib that he had fabricated for her, he cradles her close to his chest smiling when she giggled.
Using his cufflink, he then contacts Fragile to come and meet him in his Private Room. When she did arrive, he then tells her of his plan to attempt to reach Cliff’s Beach.
“It could work. So long as I have the micanga you gave me, you can find me and Louise.”
“But what if things come to the worst?”
“I don’t believe that. I know you can get me out.”
Fragile seemed to hesitate a bit. It was too risky. But Sam was insistent. “Please, Fragile. This would be my chance to finally get to know my father.” He pleads with her. A chance to know why he did what he did as the guilt he had pushed down started to bubble out. The guilt that he inadvertently caused his father’s death along with his mother’s. It was irrational he knew that. But he felt somewhat responsible for what Bridget or Amelie had done.
“…Alright. You know the drill.” Fragile says, opening her umbrella and holding it over them. Cradling Lou close to his chest, he then steps underneath the umbrella.
Letting Fragile grab his free hand and press her forehead against his, Fragile then starts, “You want answers. You want to know your father more. You. Want. Answers.” Sam reached out desperately trying to find the man’s Beach and then, he saw it.
“There!”
In a flash, he was gone and Sam found himself on the Beach. No longer was it the battlefields that he had landed in but rather a calm Beach just like Amelie’s. Looking around, he searches for the silver-haired man when he saw him sitting close to the waters.
Approaching the man slowly, Sam was about to greet him when the man spoke, “Hello Sam. I sensed your presence when you appeared here. I never thought that you would actually try to come here.” Cliff said, turning then to look at his son with a kind smile on his face.
“I… I didn’t think of it either.” Sam told Cliff.
Cliff’s gaze then wandered down to the baby in his son’s arms and his eyes seemed to light up with joy. “Ah, you’ve brought Lou.”
“Um, my mistake. Turns out Lou is Louise.” Sam chuckled.
Cliff laughed as well. It was so strange seeing the man whom had initially hunted him down and so full of sorrow and grief now radiating with joy and just at peace. “That’s a perfect name for her. Louise.” Cliff beckons his son to join him and Sam did so, sitting right beside the other man. “If you are fine with it Sam, may I hold her?” The man then asks.
“Oh y-yeah. Yeah sure.” He replies, handing Louise over to Cliff. Carefully and gently, Cliff takes Louise into his arms and cradles him against his chest playing with her and making her giggle. A big grin grew on the older man’s face as the child in his arms brightened up seeing the silver-haired man and started to babble happily.
“I used to remember when I held you that fateful night. Even though it wasn’t in the… best circumstances.” He said, holding his other hand over the baby as he held her with one arm, letting her grip his finger.
“I… know. I… saw it all. I remembered what you told me too.”
Looking back at his son as he started to rock Louise, Cliff nods. “I’m glad that you managed to be free, Sam. That was all I wanted for you.”
“…You died… for me.”
“Yes.”
Sam could feel the burn behind his eyes as tears threatened to break free. Despite still loving Amelie and understanding why she did what she did, he couldn’t forgive her nor Bridget or whomever it is they are for what they did. Many nights it kept him awake, making him wonder if he hadn’t been born perhaps his father and mother would be fine. That the Death Stranding wouldn’t have sped up thanks to Amelie bringing him back and destroying the barrier between the world of the living and the dead.
“Do you ever regret it?”
“Regret sacrificing myself for you?”
Sam nods, unable to speak as his throat tightened from the deep sorrow wallowing up inside him.
Cliff shook his head. “Never. I never regretted it. I would die a million deaths for you because you’re my son, Sam.”
Pulling his hand away from Louise, he reaches over to his son then stilled. “I know of your fear. They told me. Is it alright if I hug you, son?”
Sam looks up and nods. He didn’t know who is this ‘they’ that his father refers to. He only knew that since their last battle and in that flashback to the past, his father mentioned them. He could always ask about them later however.
Pulling his son into a one-armed hug, Cliff lets Sam settle his chin on his shoulder. “Your mother and I never regretted having you and I never regretted giving my life for you so long as you’re able to live your life freely.”
A few tears escaped and rolled down Sam’s eyes. Although his fear still lingered in the back of his head, he brought his hands up and gripped his father’s suit trembling slightly. “I want to know about you and Mom.” He murmurs. Even with Bridget, he never called her Mom. They were just too distant. He had simply called her Ma. But for a woman whom he would never get the chance to meet, it just felt right calling her Mom.
“Of course. I would be happy to tell you about us.” Pulling back then, Cliff then returns to rocking Louise in his arms once more. “So, where do you want to start?”
Clearing his throat, Sam then starts with a soft smile, “How did you and Mom meet?” He asks.
Cliff laughs boisterous and loud. “Now that is one helluva story.”
And they sat there, father and son reunited, and a granddaughter albeit not of the same blood in a grandfather’s arms babbling away without a care in the world.
I had been thinking of this idea before but somehow me and @changethecircumstances have the same idea. It’s just mine is going to end up a bit differently BUT GODDAMN IT WAS PRETTY SHOCKING WHEN I FOUND OUT
It should have been a simple journey. Just deliver some medicine to a doctor on the outskirts of Lake Knot City. It wasn’t even that far to drive out there. And then the fucking terrorists just had to show up and ruin the day.
MULES were one thing but the terrorists were another issue altogether. They had no qualms of killing people and causing voidouts so they had to make a run for it in their truck.
Unfortunately, the terrorists caught up riding their own vehicles that Cliff suspected they probably hijacked or killed for and surrounded them firing away without a care in the world. “DUCK!” Cliff shouts, pushing both boys down underneath the dashboard as shards of glass fell around them and the loud booms of gunfire echoed around them.
“Stay down and don’t move!” Cliff orders them removing Lou from his chest and giving her to the boys. He couldn’t risk Lou getting hit under such heavy fire.
“Dad, wait!”
“Pops!”
“Stay here!” Cliff shouts once more.
Pulling out his non-lethal assault rifle, Cliff started firing at the terrorists through the broken window, knocking out three of them, then quickly got out and closed the door behind him. He ran as more bullets fired too close to him and slid across the truck, hiding behind the vehicle using it as a shield. Taking aim, he fired more shots dropping another two more.
Footsteps crunched behind him and before Cliff could defend himself, one of the terrorists grabbed him up by the back of his collar and slammed his head into the truck and then proceeded to punch him in the torso repeatedly.
Dazed but not out of the fight yet, Cliff attempts to fight back. He grunts when he felt a rib snap, and in a desperate attempt to defend himself before the man could do any more heavy damage to him, swung his rifle at the man’s head hard.
That got the terrorist to back off as he clutched his head and moaned in pain. Raising his rifle, Cliff then shot a couple of rounds into the terrorist’s head knocking the man out. Coughing and spitting out blood, Cliff then quickly got rid of the rest, getting a few grazes from the bullets but thankfully none of them did not hit anything major. He even threw one of his cargo (thankfully not the cargo he was supposed to deliver) at one of the men knocking them out.
Heaving, Cliff quickly rushed to the truck. He was relieved when the boys and Lou were safe and sound although they were pretty shaken from the whole ordeal. Hopping in, Cliff started the truck again and beckoned them to get back up.
“It’s safe now.” The boys did so, buckling in with Sam holding onto Lou.
After that, everything seemed to be going just fine. That was until the pain throbbing in his chest suddenly turned quite intense. Cliff cries out, clutching his ribs. The pain was like someone was digging in a dull blade into his lung and twisting it slowly.
Blood started to fill his mouth and he couldn’t help but cough out a few droplets, the red liquid dribbling down his chin.
Damn. Punctured lung. He figured.
This was bad. He needed to rush the delivery or he wouldn’t make it. Screw the condition of the other cargoes. He was on a time limit now. If he didn’t get to the doctor in time, there would be no delivery, no rescue of Amelie, but most of all no one to keep the boys and Lou safe and raise them all.
The thought of the kids out here in this wasteland alone sent chills down his spine.
“Dad! Dad, are you alright?”
“Holy shit, Pops! You’re coughing up blood!”
The boys were now panicking and Lou could sense it as well and she started crying.
“I-It’s fine. The doctor can help treat me.” Cliff said shakily before coughing out more blood again.
“But-!”
“Don’t worry, Sam. I’ll be fine.” Cliff reassured the boy, reaching over and petting the tearful boy’s head and Higgs as well whom looked to be on the verge of tears as well despite his best to stay strong. His hand slides down to the pod and he taps on the glass in a way of telling Lou that everything is going to be alright.
The drive itself seemed like a dream. He didn’t recollect reaching their destination or activating the terminal. The next thing he knew was that he was on the metal floor on his back with his sons crying and screaming at him to hold on along with Lou crying her lungs out.
He wanted to tell them everything was going to be fine. That for now they were safe and they could contact John on his cufflink. But he couldn’t even speak those words, only more blood dribbling out of his mouth as he attempted to speak.
And then darkness.
Death was… nothing like he imagined. Darkness and then water. Water as far as his eyes could see as he felt himself fall into the depths. Looking around, he saw a few creatures swimming by. Schools of fishes and whales just lazing about in these depths. But he was far from the ocean so how did he get here?
In the distance he saw what appeared to be a golden strand descending from the surface of the waters down below. Turning over, he then saw himself and what appeared to be the doctor’s shelter, the boys by his side.
He didn’t know why but he felt an attraction to get to his body. To follow the strand. So he did. He swam over to his body and once he did so, everything went black again.
He woke up coughing and wheezing, his heart beating rapidly in his ears and he swore he heard rapid beeping as well right by his side.
“Easy there! That was too close for comfort my boy.” He heard a man speak.
“W-Where?”
“Your sons told me that you needed help. Honestly, what were you thinking? You died. Your broken rib punctured your lung. You basically drowned on land.” The doctor scolded Cliff.
“The boys and that BB were crying and just breaking down. It was truly heart-wrenching. Thought we were going to lose you but then your heart started to beat after I fixed your rib, stitched your lung up and drained the blood out without me even getting a chance to get your heart beating again. Scared the hell out of me.” The doctor said going over to check Cliff’s vitals.
“Whatever it is, you’re lucky to still be breathing. They hadn’t left your side since once I informed them that you were going to be alright.”
Looking down, Cliff saw his sons sleeping curled up close to his sides with Lou on top of his bare chest also sleeping.
“It wouldn’t stop crying even when we put her close to your side. It only calmed down when I put it on top of your chest.”
“Her. And she has a name.” Cliff growled protectively. He hated when the others only saw Lou as nothing but a tool.
That made the doctor step back in fright. “Ah… my apologies.”
“Babies like to hear their parent’s heartbeat. Makes them feel safe.” Cliff muttered, curling an arm around the pod holding it close to his chest while his other hand petted the boys’ heads reassuringly.
“I’ll leave you to rest. And not to worry, your vehicle is stored safely.”
Cliff heard the man leave and he sighed in relief. He did not know what had just happened. It all seemed like a dream. But the doctor told him he was dead and then he was back. Whatever the case, all that matters was that he was alive and that he could still be there for his kids.
He couldn’t just leave them stranded now. Not now and not ever.
Ever since I read the first chapter of @changethecircumstances fic that is still in progress, I just can’t stop picturing Porter Cliff with his two sons, Sam and an adopted Higgs, with Lou getting into wild shenanigans. This is one of them. You could take as a companion piece of their fic and I do hope you guys will enjoy it!
No Timefall. Thank god for that Cliff thought. Still, the trek to his next delivery was too far to go by foot and would take days. Add in the fact that the reverse trike he had been using had the batteries completely shot to Hell when a MULE got a lucky shot at it with his electrified pole before he and the boys could get on it and make their quick escape.
A couple of shots from his non-lethal assault rifle was enough to take them down and scare off the rest. But that still left them with the question on how to get to their destination quickly and without trouble. That was when Cliff remembered the multiple PCC’s he had. Checking his supplies, Cliff internally counted how many PCC’s he had.
Three.
It will have to do.
After making sure his son and his second son whom he adopted along with Lou were fine, he left them to rest and recuperate after their escape from the MULES. Cliff then got to work on constructing the next best thing that would aid them in their journey.
Choosing to construct a zipline, he searches around hoping that there was another zipline in sight and gave a sigh of relief when he found a connection across the landscape. And quite the distance too. Luck seemed to smile on them right now and he wasn’t going to look away a gift in the horse’s mouth.
Letting the PCC do its work then, he heads over to the boys whom were now playing with Lou.
“Alright, it’s time to go boys.” Cliff said, taking the pod from Sam and latching it back onto his chest but not before he made a playing motion with his finger in front of Lou making her giggle and blow out a few heart-shaped bubbles.
“So, how are we going to head out, pops?” Higgs asked. Sam was just as curious as well. Whilst his son was more quiet just like him and his mother, Higgs was the complete opposite. Boisterous. Loud. Challenging. But he knew why the boy would act in such a manner. In a way, it was his way to get the attention and love that he so craved but was not given by his uncle.
The thought of the abusive man just made his blood boil.
“With this.” Cliff said, pointing to the now complete zipline.
“But… how are we going to get hitched onto it, Dad? We don’t have cufflinks.” Sam asked.
“That’s true. But I have plenty of rope from the climbing anchors I brought.” Cliff said, taking the anchors and snapping the ropes off the anchors. Tying them to his waist he then looped the ropes around his shoulders before then tying the ropes around Higgs’s and Sam’s waist. Slinging the bag once more onto his back which helped secure the ropes down, Cliff then gestures them to grab onto him.
Each boy grabbed to each arm with Sam on the left and Higgs on the right wrapping their legs around Cliff so as not to fall off before the man then attached the cufflink to the zipline.
“Ready, boys?”
“Yeah!”
“Yes.”
Without skipping a beat, Cliff then starts the zipline and with a strong burst, the trio and BB were launched from their starting point across the wide fields.
Higgs yelled full of excitement and on an adrenaline rush and so did Sam. They couldn’t help it. It was by far the most fun they had in the entirety of the journey. Even Cliff wasn’t immune to their infectious joy and he too started to cheer. Lou herself was giggling and babbling happily as they zoomed away.
A few porters passing by heard the loud yells and screams and when they looked up, nearly did a double take when they saw a porter with two children clinging onto him with a BB latched onto his chest cackling and yelling excitedly with big grins on their faces.
It all happened so quick that in a flash, that they lost track of Cliff and his kids making the wonder if they actually saw that.
“Did… Did that just happen?” One of them asked.
They could still hear the squeals and laughter in the distance and one of them nodded.
“Apparently. As if things couldn’t get any wilder in this wasteland.”
“I mean… it’s better than just walking. Might as well take as much fun as we can.”
“Quick question though. Why didn’t we think of setting up ziplines?” Another one of them asked.
The men looked at each other as it dawned on them then that they could have just used the ziplines to make it faster to their destination and they all gave a collective sigh and internally screamed.
“Faster, FASTER!” Higgs laughs.
“This is the fastest we’re going, Higgs!” Cliff responded with a grin.
“WOOOOOO!” Sam cheered as they zoomed on. Unfortunately their ride was coming to an end and the boys groaned when they saw the opposite zipline, not wanting their fun ride to end.
“Let me see if its connected to another zipline.” Cliff suggests which got the boys hyped up once more.
And lo and behold. Indeed it was connected to another zipline that led to their destination. “How about another round, boys? Lou?”
Everyone cheered and once again, Cliff started their ride, their laughter echoing across the fields as they flew past MULES and BT’s, rivers and mountains.
My first John/Cliff fanfiction! I do hope I nail it right and hopefully you guys enjoy this short piece. I do plan on writing more John/Cliff fics in the future so keep a look out for more of them.
It’s been a week since Sam had disappeared off the face of the Earth with the BB that he was supposed to bring to the incinerator. God knows where the man was but John found that he did not mind that in the slightest. So long as Sam was alive and well, he was fine with it. After all, Sam had always been a lone wolf.
Not to mention he also had to attend to the many tasks that came with being President of the UCA. So he wasn’t exactly left with enough time to attempt searching and investigating Sam’s whereabouts. He could send out some porters but they were as busy as it is and the UCA needed all the porters right now to move this country forward.
Still even as he tried to keep busy with his duty, the nightmares plague his dreams still, always looping from the very beginning of watching his Captain die over and over again right in front of him. Sometimes it was just the Captain, other times it would have both the Captain and Sam dead on the floor.
Every night, he would wake up with sweat dotting his forehead and tears brimming in his eyes. Guilt ate at his soul. He would always blame himself for not being able to protect and save his Captain, his son and his wife.
Poor Lisa. He wished there was some way to save her but it was clear that she was brain dead before he even arrived to visit the Captain and his son and there would be no saving her. But even when it came to the Captain and his son, he couldn’t even save them. He shook his head and gave a sad chuckle. It was always his Captain that saved him time and time again from the battlefields that the brass sent them out to but when it came to him saving his Captain and his son, he failed miserably.
He was Die-Hardman because he couldn’t die easily but when it came to the people around him, they would drop like flies all because he was weak.
He was not like his Captain. Brave and ready to face danger and death in the face. He wasn’t like Cliff’s son, Sam. A repatriate and a person with DOOMS. Like he left in his recorded message before he was summoned to Amelie’s Beach, he was just a man. Nothing more.
A weak man. A worthless soldier.
A few tears managed to escape and rolled down his cheeks as he sat there on his bed in the pitch black darkness of his private room. A sob slipped past his lips and then another as he started to break down, clutching onto the sheets as he trembled.
He made an oath that he would do the best he could as President of the UCA. But he feared that he would even fail that job. After all, he failed his Captain. The man he still loved dearly to this very day.
At first, that love was familial but then it started to change over the coming years. It became something more but he didn’t dare tell the Captain then. It would not do anyone any good if he tried to pursue a relationship with the Captain and the Captain himself had fallen in love with Lisa.
He swore he was never going to be a homewrecker and while he ached of his lost love, he did not mind settling as friends with the Captain and his girlfriend who would later become his wife. They took him in, accepted him in their little family. Bless Lisa. She was the kindest person he had ever met and he knew she would have been a good mother if she had not ended up in that accident that would render her brain-dead.
Unfortunately, he lost contact with them when Bridget Strand made him her presidential advisor. The only time he would ever see them again was in that room and in the worst circumstances possible.
Seeing her in that glass capsule hurt him just as much as it hurt his Captain.
He lets out another sob, more tears falling onto the sheets.
“I’m sorry, Captain. I failed you and your family. I should have just taken you and Sam out, not leave you to find a way out on your own. I should have listened to my heart rather than my brain. And now I lost you.” He sobs.
“I still love you, you know. I never told you because it would just be wrong of me to interfere in your relationship with your wife.”
But he knew his Captain would never hear his words. All he had now were just ghosts of the past. He was all alone. Would be until the day he died.
If only he knew that there was a ghost from his past literally in his room.
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Cliff watched with sorrowful eyes and a heavy heart as the soldier he once took in and trained sobbed his eyes out. He had grown older. No longer was he the brave but cocky and reckless young man but rather a hardened but broken man.
The silver-haired man had always suspected that John had feelings for him. He had noticed when the first time when the man started to act differently around him. Even catching him blushing whenever he got too close to him.
So to hear John finally admit it wasn’t that surprising.
Truth be told, he also had started to fall for the other man. But he was the Captain and he had to focus on keeping his team alive. There was no time for any relationships. But yet he fell in love with Lisa. Even when he fell for the woman who would become his wife, his heart still had space for the other man even if he didn’t act on it. Bless his wife. Lisa was just as sharp as he was and noticed how John and he would act around each other and was just understanding of their relationship. She did not mind that he kept John in his heart just as he kept her in his.
As she told him, he had big heart for the both of them.
Funny that he, a man who was good at dividing others, had such a big heart.
Hearing John sob his heart out made his no longer beating heart ache. He just couldn’t sit back and watch the soldier and the man he still loved break apart.
Walking over silently, Cliff slowly manifested into the physical world then sat on the edge of the bed, reaching a hand out and resting it on John’s shoulder.
John stiffened then. What was this weight on his shoulder? Why did it feel like his bed had dipped to one side?
Looking up, John’s eyes widened when he saw the man right in front of him.
“C-Captain Unger? But you’re… you’re dead.” John muttered in disbelief.
Yet here was the Captain right before his very eyes.
“I am. I’m a ghost that is haunting this world now John. I’m not like those… things. I can’t rest. Not when I’ve finally found my son.” Cliff explains. And you.
More tears rolled down John’s cheeks. “Are you here to kill me? If you do, I won’t resist. After all, I deserve it after what I’ve done.”
Cliff shook his head, clearly not happy of John blaming himself to the point that he was willing to die for his sins. “John… what happened wasn’t your fault.”
“I. Shot. You!”
“Bridget did. You were the gun John. She was the one who pulled the trigger. Who manipulated your love and loyalty to her and filled you with guilt.”
The other man shook his head. “No. No, you don’t understand.” He chokes out. “Even if I didn’t pull the trigger, I should have done more. I should have just gotten you and Sam out instead of just overriding the security systems and giving you a small window to get out. I should have known better that escaping that Bridges facility would be harder than expected.”
“John…”
“Why don’t you hate me!? I failed you Captain! I failed you, your wife and your son!” He cried out.
Cliff could hear the silent words behind those cries. Hear John shout that he did not deserve his love. Did not deserve him.
Without speaking, Cliff pulled John into a tight hug, a hand on the small of John’s back and the other on the back of John’s neck, tucking John’s head underneath his chin. “I never hated you John. You did what you could. You were trapped in between loyalties to me or Bridget. And when it came down to it, I never wanted you to suffer if you fail to obey the President then.” He said.
“But…”
“Ssshhh. Enough of your self-loathing. Again, let me be clear once more. I never hated you John. In fact, I have and will always love you.” He said softly smiling as he finally confessed to John of his true feelings.
John stilled, stunned at what he had just heard. Was he mishearing things?
“You… You love me?”
“Yes. I started to fall for you back when we were still in the army even when I fell for Lisa. Lisa knew too. She didn’t mind that I still held feelings for you even after we had gotten married. It never changed even after I died.” Cliff whispered before then planting a soft kiss on John’s temple.
John’s arms wrapped around Cliff, tightening his hold on him and clutching onto Cliff as if he were his lifeline. It just felt like a dream. It had to be.
But he could feel the solid frame of his Captain, feel how cold he is. And he noticed that the Captain’s chest never rose or fell. The Captain was dead yes but for some reason, he was able to physically manifest in the world of the living.
“I-I love you.” John chokes out. “I never stopped too.”
Cliff then smiled, “You should sleep. You’re a busy man now.” Cliff joked.
John shakes his head. “And you can still be the jokester when you want to be.” He laughs, wiping the tears from his eyes.
They both fell back onto the bed, with Cliff shifting slightly to let John lay his head on his chest. It was strange not hearing the Captain’s heartbeat. But the man after all was dead so it wasn’t too surprising. “Sleep, John. Now.” He heard Cliff speak up sternly.
Slowly as John drifted off, he had never felt as much peace as he was now. And this time as he fell back into a deep slumber, no nightmares came.
