✿ Pairing → Steve•Claire

✿ Word Count → 792

✿ Summary → Tears shimmer at the corners of her eyes. 'You showed more courage than most of the people I've met in my life.' She can't say the words out loud. They will never express the gravity of such a truth. The truth is here in her arms—a reality she had never expected.

【Sometimes Selfish is Selfless】

Tender lips kiss along her neck as silence falls around them, calming. Her legs tremble and her heart is still racing.

"Claire," Steve whispers in the darkness. She feels his hair tickle her jawline.

What can I say? "Steve, I-"

Honestly, both of them hadn't focused on the outcome of what they'd just done. Emotions had taken over; logic had vacated their hearts and only left the utter longing for each other. Now, what do they do? Words never seemed to be enough between them. Their actions had always resounded like the ethereal blare of trumpets, overshadowing any words ever spoken... and the words themselves... always seem so redundant.

I'd thought you were dead. I never got to... I never realized just what you meant-you're here.

She lifts his face in her hands until she can see the dim glittering of his Caribbean eyes. They stare at one another, leaving time to hasten on its way. Claire will commit this image to memory, every scar on his face, the slight tugging at the corners of his lips, the creeping lines around his eyes. Steve.

"I love you, Claire." Steve's husky confession leaves her frozen.

Her eyes are wide and her heart is thundering against her chest. To hear him say it again-it sends an electric current through her veins. Swallowing back tears, she steadies her breathing.

"Claire..." Steve continues. "I'd thought for the longest time that I was dead. Then, I... I don't know when, but I began to remember everything. Memories that came to me in my dreams." He breathes, his eyes falling shut. "I remembered my family, my childhood... then... Rockfort and Antarctica. The thing is..." She felt his cheeks heat up under her fingertips. "Your face-I didn't know who you were at the time-but your face kept smiling at me."

Claire's heart flutters despite herself and and a sense of overwhelming protectiveness washes over her. Before he can continue, she wraps her arms around his chest and pulls him into a kiss. Steve gasps in surprise, but quickly falls into the leisure and hot rhythm of this kiss. His hands move along her body, making her skin tingle.

After all this time... I'd no idea... I never expected to...

"Steve," she moans, breaking the kiss. "I... all of this..." Her blue eyes flicker. "Before, when I'd lost you, I blamed myself." She looks away. "You were so young... just a kid. Yet, you always pushed yourself to help me, protect me."

You're such a crazy idiot, Steve Burnside.

"Steve, you..." She trails off, unable to finish.

Tears shimmer at the corners of her eyes. You showed more courage than most of the people I've met in my life. She can't say the words out loud. They will never express the gravity of that truth. The truth is here in her arms-a reality she had never expected.

"Since Raccoon City, my life has always been about winning something, achieving something. Even now, I don't know what that is." Her eyes clamp shut as shame moves over her. "I'd thought I knew, but... I never did." Tears are trickling down her cheeks, hot and slow. "I'd believed that helping others, saving them from sadistic corporations..." She sighs. "What I was really doing... was trying to save myself." Her body is shaking as the tears fall faster now, slipping quickly into the inky shadows of her hair.

"Claire-"

"No!" she barks suddenly. "Let me finish." Her tone is demanding, but soft. "I've been running." Opening her eyes, she finds his conflicted stare. "Steve, don't you understand? I've been running from my guilt, trying to save lives for myself!" She chokes on her sobs and Steve holds her tighter. "My friends and family commend me for my efforts, but they've always been for me... secretly. Raccoon! Antarctica! Harvardvi-!"

"Claire, stop." Steve holds her cheek, sweeping his thumb along her feverish skin. "No one has ever asked you to be perfect." He presses his forehead to hers. "You're human. Anyone in your situation would have done the same."

"Ste-"

He puts his index finger over her lips. "Claire, in the end, we are all selfish." He smirks, suddenly. "Do you think I only played the knight to protect you, or do you think I had an ulterior motive?"

Her surprise is instantly replaced with a strong and familiar sense of flattery. "You're such a guy."

He laughs. "Saved your life, though, didn't it?" His eyes suddenly turn serious. "Sometimes, selfish actions can be selfless."

"Steve..." she murmurs, her lips parting in awe.

Kissing her nose, he smirks again. "I guess I really am your knight in shining armor, huh?"

She slaps his arm, grinning. "Jerk!"