For the Sake of Revenge

[craaazyisland]

Yeah, it had been months since Steve had renounced his feelings for Claire, and he even had a girlfriend now. But something still ate at his nerves whenever it came to talking privately with her. Especially when she was the one who asked him to come talk to her. And especially when she wanted to meet somewhere strange, like hydroponics.

Steve had never actually been to hydroponics, so he was struck in awe as he stepped into the massive terrarium for the first time. Nice to know there was such a green place that wasn't virtual. Though there were probably man-eating alien plants or something creepy here.

At least his wandering train of thought was doing a good job of distracting him from worrying about what Claire wanted.

Well, until he saw her, anyway.

"Hey Claire," he said with an awkward little wave. "This is kind of off the beaten path..."

Comments

[letmelive]

Claire felt bad for Steve, but she couldn't help but laugh a little at the cell phone thing, crouching down next to him.

"Not that big of a deal. I hardly used mine for anything beyond phone calls." She cautiously reached out to rest a hand on Steve's shoulder, squeezing gently. "I know you're a fast learner, though. I'm sure there are others in Engineering who would be happy to have another set of hands."

[craaazyisland]

She'd notice him flinch a little but, but relax after a few seconds-- still quite pointedly avoiding looking at her face. "I guess," he murmured. "Probably wouldn't get myself killed in Engineering."

Then he let out another long sigh. "But that still doesn't change the fact I can't do anything for myself. It's stupid I have to be a burden on everybody else."

[letmelive]

"There's always a learning curve," Claire sighed, shifting so she was fully sitting again, pulling one leg up so she could lean against her knee.

"No matter what, until you just get out there and learn and do things, you'll feel like a burden. But if you just push past that and do what you can to learn what you want to, eventually you won't be a burden. You'll be an asset."

[craaazyisland]

Boon was wiggling under Steve's hand, falling over for a belly rub. He seemed a little more enthusiastic about petting him now.

"I guess so," he said again. "It's better than just sitting around, anyway."

He let out another sigh and finally glanced up at Claire. "Are you sure I can't do anything about Lex?"

[letmelive]

"Yes," she replied firmly, although the earlier edge to her voice wasn't there. She knew he felt helpless and like taking it out on the person who had victimized him would help him feel like he had a little more control, but, well. It was probably best if he didn't take that step.

"I know it sucks, but we need to just leave it alone, right now. Lex'll get what's coming to him, though. One way or another."

[craaazyisland]

He clearly wasn't happy about that answer, scowling slightly.

After a few seconds, something seemed to dawn on him. "What was that about a bruised jaw, anyway?"

[letmelive]

"Oh." Claire smirked a little, reaching out to scratch under Boon's chin when he lolled his head back against the ground.

"After I found out he was the one who had set GLaDOS on you, I hunted him down and punched him in the face." And verbally assaulted him a little bit.

[craaazyisland]

Steve scoffed and looked up at her incredulously. "Oh come on! What the hell? I can't even go near him, but you punched him in the face and you didn't tape it for me?"

[letmelive]

She snorted, leaning to bump her shoulder against Steve's.

"You can always ask Stacy for a video feed. I'm sure she could give you a play-by-play."

[craaazyisland]

"I don't know. I'd probably like watching it a little too much," he admitted, smiling a little crookedly. "God, what I'd give to hit that guy right in his stupid bald face."

A pause. "Didn't you get in trouble for hitting him?"

[letmelive]

"I'm up two violations, yeah," she replied, not seeing particularly bothered by it. Also possibly the slightest bit proud of herself, but she tried to hold that back for the most part. "It's not really a big deal. And it was worth it."

[craaazyisland]

"Don't get yourself in trouble because of me," Steve scolded her. "You always go to too much trouble for me."

[letmelive]

"I don't mind," Claire shrugged, her hand moving towards Boon's ears. "Besides, only one of those violations was for you. The other one was all me." Because no one called Claire Redfield a fuck-toy.

[craaazyisland]

"Well, still," he said. "I don't want you to get punished."

Steve was starting to suspect Claire had an agenda in bringing Boon along with her, because it was pretty hard to be pissed off when there was a squirming puppy around.

"Thanks for telling me," he added. "And for going to the trouble anyway."

[letmelive]

Well, an agenda beyond if she leaves the puppy alone he tends to start chewing on Sherry's books. But she'd hoped that the dog would help keep things peaceful, as well.

"No problem," she replied, glancing up at him and smiling a little. "I knew you'd want to know."

[craaazyisland]

"I always want to know," he said. "I told Dr. Sera the same thing. I don't want to just be kept in the dark all the time. I can handle it."

That point was probably arguable, seeing as he'd flipped out on his promise to leave Lex alone about ten seconds after hearing his name.

"I just wish I could be normal again. Without having to worry about some stupid bullshit. I almost forgot what it's like."

[letmelive]

She sighed a little, shifting her hand away from scratching Boon for a moment to reach out and take a hold of one of Steve's hands.

"You will be." She gave him a sincere look, squeezing his hand a little. "Luis has cured things Umbrella's messed with, before. He'll help you. You're gonna be okay." Because she honestly could not deal with it if he wasn't.

[craaazyisland]

He shyly squeezed her hand back, turning steadily redder. "I know," he said, though he sounded terribly uncertain.

"I just hope he hurries up. I don't even want to know what'll happen next time I lose it." He was already up to chest arms and losing his mind. Next time might involve attacking people.

[letmelive]

"You've just gotta keep your cool." Claire smiled a little weakly, sliding her hand from his and back to scratching the dog. She didn't really want to give him any ideas, remembering Steve still probably wasn't totally over his crush on her.

"I don't know much about science, but it can take time to develop a cure. But hopefully they're getting there."

[craaazyisland]

Claire didn't have to worry too much. True, he'd probably always be a little goofy and awkward around her, but now he knew better than to look into how she treated him too much.

Steve sighed again and shrugged. "Jesus. Of all the people in the world to get a virus that runs on getting pissed off..."

[letmelive]

Claire forced a laugh at that, shaking her head a little.

"I don't think even the most level-headed person could totally always be okay with being infected with a potentially lethal virus." She frowned a little, but it was brief before her face slipped into neutral territory again.

"I think considering the circumstances, you're doing pretty well."

[craaazyisland]

"Well yeah, but there's probably a lot better options than the most mental kid in the universe," Steve replied. His tone suggested he recognized the dark humor there.

He was quiet again or a moment when Claire said he was doing well, glancing up at her awkwardly. "Really?" he asked. "Because I feel like I've done nothing but screw up and get thrown in quarantine."

[letmelive]

"I think if you were doing really bad you'd be down there all the time." Or dead, by now. Still not the most pleasant thought, but it might've been easier, if he hadn't been able to control it from the get-go. Then she wouldn't have had all this extra time to get attached.

[craaazyisland]

She had a point, there. Steve really had done remarkably well so far, considering the odds. "I guess you're right," he said. "Sometimes I think it'd be better if I could control it more like Alexia..."

A pause, then very quickly correcting himself. "I mean, like. Like she could control how it worked. If I could control when I... you know. Not like her." Claire's earlier counterpoint was obviously still bothering him quite a bit.

[letmelive]

Claire looked up quickly, slightly panicked before he clarified, which did some to ease her mind, but not a lot. She bit her lip, shaking her head.

"I think the only way to control it the way she did is to fully accept you're becoming a monster. To embrace it, even. And..." She shook her head, slowly, eyes moving to the grass in front of her. "I don't think a good person can hold onto what makes them good, in that kind of a mindset."