"It's getting dark.", Chris mumbled and chugged down the last bite of his food.

He pulled a face, visibly disgusted by the taste and not being pleased that this haunting part of his past was still part of his life.

You had to chuckle softly, as you watched him from the corner of your eyes. Carefully, you let yourself fall onto the air mattress that you had pulled into a corner of the room, in order to create a space to sleep on.

It was large enough to fit you and the huge mountain that Chris had become.

The sheer thought of sleeping next to him made you shiver. Somehow, you were excited about it, but also kind of frightened.

He didn't seem to mind, he even cracked a joke about it nit being the first time that the two of you had to share a bed. But he himself felt uneasy too.

Ever time he glanced at you, the way you were laying on the mattress, still dressed in those black army pants and the turtleneck, his heart kind of jumped.

The fear that you would fall against his body at night awoke something inside of him.

"Are you even listening?", you asked with a smile.

He snapped out of his thoughts, blinked a few times and nodded.

"Uh- no, not really.", he gifted you an apologetic smile. "I was thinking."

"About what?"

"Tomorrow. I mean, we could pull through today, but we should be well rested for the mission."

"Hm. Me and well rested. Doesn't really go together, Redfield.", you snorted. "But that's not your main concern."

He squeezed his eyes shut with a grin as you managed to hit the mark without having to try. Even after all this time you still managed to read him like a book.

It kind of bothered him, because he had leaned to keep everything to himself. It was easier this way and the enemy wasn't able to hurt him as easily.

But still.

Every time you managed to address the things he didn't want to say, he felt weirdly relieved. He didn't have to make a fool of himself, trying to express his concerns or feelings.

You just knew.

This was something he truly enjoyed in your company. You knew him and he didn't have to pressure himself to change.

"God...", he rubbed his eyes, his gloves finally off.

He had huge hands, yet strong and defined. They were rough, just like his face, but with a hint of softness and the will to protect instead of destroy.

There were small veins running between the knuckles and up to his arms, drawing lines that looked too good to not trace them.

Your lips slightly parted as a small breath escaped you.

"You look tired.", you suddenly said, eyes heavy. "Come."

You patted the spot next to you, causing the air inside the mattress to dance and wiggle.

He looked at the spot for a moment.

You feared he would refuse and try to sleep on the floor instead.

But to your surprise, he got up, shed his bulletproof vest and let himself fall next to you.

The mattress moved, making you jump slightly into the air.

"Damn...", you mumbled, eying the giant that was taking more than half of the space. "You really must be eating well these days."

You pet his stomach.

Immediately, Chris abs twitched. He didn't know why, his body just reacted to the playful yet weirdly warm touch of yours. Embarrassed, he tried to hide the blush that was spreading across his face.

"That hurt.", he tried to lie, but knew you wouldn't buy it.

"Cramps?", you asked, slightly drawing lines over the defined sport that pressed through the skin tight turtleneck of his.

He was warm, you noticed and felt softer than expected.
He shook his head.

"No. Just... it was just a reflex."

You eyed him for a moment. Your hands wandered up, over his abs, through the small gap where his chest was parted and up to the highest part of his neck.

A shaky breath escaped him as your warm fingers touched his bare skin. Immediately, he grabbed your hand and covered it with his.

"That tickles.", he said, taking another deep breath.

You looked at him. Not a single word left your lips. You didn't even think about anything. All there was was his face right in front of you.

A soft smile appeared on your lips as your hand wandered further up and stroked over his scratchy cheek. His beard felt soft yet harsh against your skin.

He had always worn one, but the way he did it now pleased you. He looked so handsome, not too young for your taste but also not old. He looked just the right amount of mature to make your heart beat faster.

"You're a terrible liar, Chris.", you mumbled and placed a soft peck on his forehead.

He breathed in sharply and then held his breath.

His eyes wandered over your face, over your lips that smiled, up to your nose and got stuck as he reached your eyes.

Those (E/C) eyes.

He had missed the sight of them for many years. Night after night he had dreamed of them, the only pretty thing in his dreams, the light in the dark. They had burned themselves into his mind. He would never be able to forget them.

And yet.

He was strangely nervous, now that he was able to look into them. In his dreams, they had been empty, almost not filled with life. They had only been a memory, slowly fading as time dragged him further away from the happiness he once had felt.

But now that you were here, right in front of him, he noticed that those eyes were so much more than just his memories. They sparkled with a shimmer, that he could not quite describe it.

But his heart reacted to the sight, beating faster with every second he looked at you.

"(Y/N)...", he wispernd and leaned forward.

"Hm?", the tip of your nose brushed against his.

"Why... are you making me feel this way?"