A/N: Hello! So I'm doing that whole 100 words challenge, and I decided Resident Evil was the most fitting fandom for it. I love you guys, remember that. And I know you probably hate me for the way I bounce around fandoms and all. And I'm sorry for that. So, yeah, enjoy this lovely little number.

I am barely breathing

And I cant find the air

Don't know who I'm kidding

Imagining you care

I could stand here waiting

A fool for another day

I don't suppose it's worth the price that I would pay

But I'm thinking it over anyway

-Duncan Sheik-

Beginning:

My head was saying no, but my heart was saying, "Why not?"

As usual, this story started with a girl.

Of course, this was no ordinary girl. The ones worth remembering never are. And I was no ordinary man. And this was no ordinary love.

On the run, with no one to love. That was my life before her. Then she swept in and changed everything, with a single glance.

The ones worth remembering always do.

It begins, this girl pressed between the wall and my own body, my bare chest and her bare chest, and those fucking lips working magically down my neck. The sounds of panting and gasping for more. My hands were on her hips as I grinded into her, pulling her closer, closer, fighting off a moan of ecstasy as she raked her own nails down my bare back. She'll reach up to run her fingers through my hair, or she'll draw her tongue across my collarbone, or she'll grab my-

No, wait.

It begins at a desk.

My desk. It's covered in paperwork. Of all the things in the world that I hate, and there were many, nothing comes close to fucking paperwork. The sounds of ringing phones and muffled voices. My head is pounding from another night of no sleep. I stifle a laugh. As if I have time to sleep these days, between this place and Umbrella. I am running on empty at all hours of the day, forcing myself to stay awake and get through another day.

I have better things to do than babysit these obnoxious, arrogant officers.

In a few minutes, I'm to have a meeting with my team. It's supposed to be a pep talk of sorts, telling them how well they have been doing in training and all that. Boosting their ego, as if it needs boosting anymore. With the way my head is hurting, and the way my actual job is eating away at my mind, I honestly don't know how I'm going to make it through.

Sighing, I push my chair away from my desk and head out of the confined office to pour myself another cup of coffee. The scalding liquid sears my throat on the way down, but I drink it fast anyway, and I hardly even notice the pain. Things like pain, or emotions, those don't bother me anymore. I don't have time to feel them.

I hear someone behind me clearing their throat, and turn around slowly. It's Jill Valentine, perhaps one of the only tolerable people on the STARS team. She has her dark hair tied back and a slight smile on her lips. "Bad night?" She murmurs, eyeing both my exhausted appearance and the coffee in my hand.

Bad night doesn't even begin to describe it, but I can't exactly get into that with her. I can't exactly tell her about my late night at the lab, my minor spats with William Birkin about anything and everything. He's a good man, Birkin, but we do tend to have our differences. The most predominant one being that I am not a good man.

Jill gives a nod of understanding, slowly coming to the realization that I am not going to respond. "Everyone is ready for the meeting," she says instead, turning away from me. I take this as an indication to follow her, a humorous thought since I was in fact her captain. Still, I trail behind the brunette as we make our way to the conference room. It's pretty bland, just a long table with a handful of chairs around it. Most of them are occupied by the members of the Alpha team. I eye them all one by one, Brad and Joseph talking quietly while Barry and Chris are goofing off in the corner.

I make my way to the front of the room while Jill takes her place with the others. Clearing my throat gets their attention. "Right," I say slowly. I'm sure it's written all over my face that this is the last place I want to be. Under normal circumstances, I would at least try to exert some power over them. Under normal circumstances, though, I wouldn't even be here. I belong in the lab, conducting studies.

I keep having to remind myself that this whole mission is for the greater good of Umbrella. I've sold my soul to that company, if I ever had one to begin with.

"So, uh, you guys are doing great with the training, and all." I rub at my temples slowly, massaging the area in little circles with my fingertips. Damn this migraine to Hell.

The team is staring at me expectantly, waiting for me to say something more. I have nothing more to say, though, and they can see that in the way my lips are turned down. They could see it in my eyes, too, if they weren't shielded by the sunglasses I never take off. It was a barrier, a way to protect myself from giving too much away. I cant afford to give myself away, not yet. I have way too much riding on this little ruse.

"Is that it?" It is Chris Redfield who speaks out. I should have expected as much. Chris is always looking for ways to challenge me, to stand up against my authority.

"I'm sorry," I say bitingly. "I didn't realize you were expecting a State of the Union report."

Chris holds his ground, never tearing his dark eyes away from my face. "Well, I was expecting a little more than a half hearted statement, yeah."

I resist the urge to roll my eyes, but just barely. "Sorry to disappoint you," I reply, my words dripping with sarcasm.

In a single motion, I am sweeping out of the room, away from them and this whole damn thing. I blink hard as another searing pain flashes through my head. In that brief moment, I feel my body collide with someone else. Instinctively I reach out, grabbing the figure around the waist to steady their footing. When I open my eyes, they are locked with those of the softest blue.

This is the first time I meet her.

Claire Redfield.

"Oh, God, I'm sorry!" The girl blurts out, taking a step back. My hands instantly fall to my sides, but neither of us moves. We are stuck in this awkward stare, both the most uncomfortable and intense thing I have ever felt in my life.

"It's quite alright," I say smoothly, stepping aside so that she may pass me. The girl lingers for a moment longer before pushing past me into the conference room.

Just before I disappear down the hall way, I hear her soft giggle over my shoulder. "You're right, he is terrifying."

I clench my hands into little fists.

This is how it begins.