Resident Evil Series Fan Fiction ❯ Taller Than God ❯ Chapter 9 ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter IX

"Iris"

And I'd give up forever to touch you

'Cause I know that you feel me somehow

You're the closet to heaven that I'll ever be

And I don't want to go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment

And all I can breathe is your life

'Cause sooner or later it's over

I just don't want to miss you tonight


And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'll understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am


And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming

Or the moment of truth in your lies

When everything feels like the movies

And you bleed just to know you're alive
- Goo Goo Dolls, Dizzy Up the Girl


The sun shone through the windows of Wesker's room. The rays pouring over the bodies of the two lovers still lost in the middle of each other's embrace. Wesker awoke first, still in disbelief that she was beside him, in his bed. As he sat up, sheet slipping off of his chest, all he could think was, I never knew I could feel happiness or anything even remotely close to this intensity.
He looked over to confirm that his feelings were indeed true, along with last night's happenings, and, to his surprise and slight dismay there she still lied. What now? I love her, but will that be enough? Enough to keep her from Umbrella? Is anything enough for them? No... Well, love conquers all, as they say. No, it doesn't, I never believed before, why start now? Only lusty idiots have that breed of figuring, not me. Nothings changed...yes it has, who am I trying to fool? As these thoughts were running through Wesker's troubled mind, he turned back toward his only source of solace, which was still serenely dreaming, and placed a small, innocent kiss on her forehead.
He placed his feet on the usual cold and barren floor, but, for some reason, it seemed so much warmer this day. Wesker glanced around the room, and even it seemed to shimmer with a faint glow. It's funny, he thought, yesterday it was nothing but empty. He knew why his room appeared this way, and as he conjured this thought he looked at the one responsible. Asherah. Wesker quietly began to dress himself, it amazed him the level of care he took as not to disturb his love. He gave a slight smirk; he knew that he would not go to such lengths for anyone else. As he zipped up his pants, still shirtless, the phone on his desk began to ring rather loudly. "God dammit!" He looked to his love before going to the phone; it was just as he feared, she had begun to stir.

He picked up the receiver, "This better be good..."
-"Good morning to you too, Wes."
-"Birkin."
-"That would be me. And as for you're more than hospitable greeting, don't worry, it is."
-"I'm listening." And just as Wesker spoke, he heard his bed sheets rustle behind him. He turned to look, pulling the phone slightly away from his ear. Asherah was sitting up in bed, only the sheets shielding his intense eyes from her fragile frame. She rubbed her eyes; her sight focused, and beheld Wesker's half-naked form. He grew nervous, awaiting her reaction. Asherah looked upon him, recalling last night's extraordinary events, a smile grew on her lips and the unmistakable gleam of love shone in her red eyes. Wesker's breath caught after viewing this, I never knew I could feel like this...Then, Birkin's yelling voice drew his attention back towards the phone.
-"Wes?! Wes!? Wesker, you there!!?"
-"Yes, I'm here.” He snapped back.
-"Christ, sorry. You went quiet on me."
Asherah's sleep-ridden voice rang out in the bedroom, once again temporarily delaying the conversation, "Wesker, what is it?" Wesker put his hand over the receiver, hoping to block his and Asherah's voices. "It's nothing, my love, go back to bed. I'll join you soon." Asherah nodded her head in agreement. "I love you, Wesker." He withdrew his hand from the receiver in happiness and shock, this is the first time she spoke those words to me . He had a large grin on his lips, uncommon for him, as he answered her, "I love you, too."
On the other side of the line, Birkin's eyes grew to twice their size at hearing this, he stuttered "Wesker, I know how we've been very good friends for a long time but-
Wesker was hastened back to reality, realizing what had just occurred. " Not you, Birkin. I mean...I-
-"Is someone there? Oh, Jesus, Wesker, you didn't.."
-"My private life is none of your business!" Wesker roared back.
-"I see, but it is Umbrella's and now it's Alfred Ashford's!! Wesker, you know that if Umbrella finds out you're being distracted, especially by an outsider, they won't hesitate to get rid of her..."
Wesker was taken aback, not only by Birkin's shocking statement, but now it was beginning to become common place for Birkin to answer back to him, well more common then ever before. "What did you say?" "Alfred Ashford!?"
-"That's what I called to tell you. Alfred is apparently trying to put his twisted family's legacy back on the map with Umbrella; and it's working... This means, he’s our new boss."
An intense look of uncertainty and doubt washed over Wesker's features, and even rippled over into his voice. "How could that be? I thought we were rid of the Ashford's permanently."
-"I don't know, Wes. But he requested an audience with me, we met earlier today, and he mentioned to me that he desires one with you, too. I've seen him, Wesker; he's even crazier than before. He's capable of anything now... I don't know if it's even possible to stop him anymore...Be careful with her, Wes."
-"I will, thanks, William. I'll inform you of when he comes."
Wesker hung up the phone, and wiped a nervous hand over his stressed face. What am I going to do now? All these complications, keeping me from her, from her love. Why? Why must it be this way? My past... that's why... but I was already aware of that ... Alfred was dangerous to begin with, but now...even worse? Is that possible? I'll have to act as though Asherah and me are nothing in front of everyone, should someone draw suspicion, especially that of Alfred Ashford's, what then? I'll have to kill them, anything to keep her from Sir Alfred's loathsome clutches. He looked over to the very woman he was pondering. Asherah... I'll do everything in my power to protect you from Umbrella, this I swear to you.
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Down the hall, back in Asherah's original bedroom, her roommate had begun to awaken. Rebecca's eyes fluttered open, still weary with sleep. She sat up, and quickly came upon the realization of the absence of her beloved friend. Where is...no way... no way... it's not even possible! She jumped out of bed, assuming the worst had befallen her friend. She's been kidnapped! Taken! Or worse!! I have to get Claire and inform the team!
She hurried to put her S.T.A.R.S. uniform on, nearly tearing the fabric in her adrenaline-induced state. She threw the door open and hastened to the main office. The hall was a blur of fast-moving walls as she made an attention grabbing entrance, especially since she almost slammed straight into Chris.
-"Whoa, whoa, take it easy, Rebecca. What the hell's the matter?" Chris asked, after averting disaster.
She looked from Chris to Claire, who was standing right beside her brother. “Claire, I need to talk to you for a minute." She said, nearly breathless.
Claire looked frightened, "Oh, ok", she answered slowly, "Let's go talk in your room, Bec."
Rebecca took Claire by the arm and rushed her down the hall, to her and Asherah’s room. As soon as they were there, Rebecca flew around and locked the door behind her. She leaned on it for support, the look of intense worry and concern cloaking her features.
-"Bec, what is it? You're kind of scaring me..."
Rebecca crossed the room, and was instantly grabbing on to Claire for dear life. “It’s Asherah...she's gone! She was kidnapped, stolen! We have to do something Claire!! She's our best friend..."
-"Rebecca", Claire said, glancing down at her friend, who was practically trying to become her new appendage, "I'm sure there's a perfectly logical explanation for all this."
Claire looked down at the floor, with a finger up to her lips, tapping, and comprending the situation. Where would...oh no! No! Could it be...with him!? Maybe... Well, I'm not going to check...god, if Wesker saw me banging on his door, asking for Asherah...yeah, not pleasant. But I know someone who can... "Don't worry Rebecca, I think I might know where she could be."
-"Really, where?" Rebecca responded, sniffling, looking up at Claire.
-"I'm not sure yet..." She knew better than to tell Rebecca her suspicions, lest it become the latest topic of interest of S.T.A.R.S. headquarters. She also didn't completely trust Wesker either...There's just something about him I can't quite put my finger on... Well, whatever it is, I don't like it... "I'm going to have to talk with Barry for this one, so, um; I'm going to need you to detach yourself from my side."
Rebecca blushed and rubbed her head, "Oh yeah, right, sorry."
The girls walked back together to the office, where, it appeared, the rest of the S.T.A.R.S. Alpha team had convened, all but two that is... At noticing this, both Claire and Barry appeared dismayed, while Rebecca, not picking up on what the others were beginning to sense, was relieved that her friend had seemed to come up with a solution. Claire looked immediately at Barry with overwhelming urgency in her face, he nodded his head and the two went to Barry's room to talk. The eyes of everyone else, including Rebecca, followed behind them. Chris shook his head at this, "I've got a bad feeling about this..." Jill nodded slowly in agreement, “Me too."
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Wesker turned back towards his object of affection, now fully clad in uniform, all but his infamous sunglasses. For some odd reason, he felt like she was the only one he didn't like to hide his eyes from, but more, he knew it was himself he didn't want to keep from her. Just as he hoped she wouldn't hide herself from him, he wanted her, all of her. If only Asherah, if only I could tell you the truth....
He quietly approached his bed, where his love still serenely slumbered. He went to her side, crawling up on the bed next to her. She opened her eyes a little; Wesker took his hand and softly ran it through her beautiful raven hair. She nuzzled her face against his hand and held it to her blushing cheek. He looked into those bottomless, red eyes, "Good morning, my love." Asherah rose, holding the sheets, covering herself from him. She wrapped her golden arms around his waist, and rested her head underneath his strong chin.
I feel so safe with him... "Good morning.” He gently kissed the back of her neck that remained exposed to him. She removed her head from his protective nook and caught his lips in a kiss. He strongly returned her mouth's request, leaning her backwards. He ran his hand over her sheathed body, wanting more, but he knew time was against them. Wesker pulled away from her enrapturing embrace, he looked down at her, her body waiting for him and him alone. "I love you, Asherah." She smiled and nodded, acknowledging the fact that the time beckoned his departure from her, from this bed. “I love you too, Wesker." A hint of sadness could be detected in her fragile voice. What's going to happen now? She wondered. I so wished this morning would never have come...
Wesker rose from his beloved's side, albeit regretfully. "I need to leave you now, Asherah. I'm sorry." She was unsure, she knew he had to leave her, but he was sorry? Was he just sorry for leaving her, like she was sorry he was, or sorry for the other night... But he did say he loves me, that's good, right? She was afraid he'd regret being with her, after all, it did happen rather quickly...But wasn't that the very way of true love? She knew she loved him... there's just something about him... I'm probably just being stupid again....but...will he tell the others or keep us a secret? She pondered all those horrible thoughts as he turned to leave. He stopped, suddenly, just as he was about to reach the door to leave her, “I love you, Asherah, don't forget that. Don't ever think my feelings for you are anything less." She looked down at the bed sheets surrounding her, "I won't, Albert, I promise." He was a little surprised to hear her say his actual name, but very pleased at the same time. And then, sadly, he left her, shades in hand.
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Wesker walked into the office, a tinge of fear in his heart, not for himself, but for Asherah. What would they say to her? He know he had to remain silent about his love for the girl, along with last night, if Alfred grew suspicious of them...Wesker shook his head, I'd never let anyone touch her.
As soon as he approached the doorway, everyone rapidly turned around, their unsure stares greeting him. Chris seemed to be the only one who didn't display uncertainty, no, Wesker could have sworn it was almost...anger. Is he angry over Asherah and me? Wesker returned his unwelcoming glare, she belongs to me and me alone, he said mentally to Chris. Jill, sensing the hostility between the two men, tried a friendlier approach, "Morning, Wesker. Late day today?"
-"Yeah, really..." Chris muttered under his breath with quite a bit of disdain. Wesker wasn't really sure how to respond to Jill's question, he couldn't tell the truth, but then, he hardly ever did anyways. But with Asherah it was different, hell, everything was. "I was detained by a very urgent phone call this morning, if you're all that curious of my whereabouts.” he answered bitterly.
-"Bull." Chris muttered again. Everyone was silenced by his remark, no one ever dared to address Wesker in such a manner before. Wesker grew angry at his blatant disrespect, not to mention his rather apparent jealously, as well.
-"What did you just say to me Redfield?" Wesker had to summon all his willpower not to cross the room and punch him. Jill noticed the expression on Wesker's face, she knew that Chris was two seconds away from getting decked by their captain. She nudged Chris just as he was about to repeat his previous comment.
Taking Jill's hint, he decided to change his response; however, he refused to change his opinion on the matter, "Oh sorry, Captain Wesker. I meant where the hell is Asherah and what did you do with her!!?" Jill gasped and shook her head, oh god, here it comes... Wesker crossed the room in no time, tempted to put Chris against the wall by his neck. Just as he was about to reach Chris and give him a black eye to remember for his ignorance, a familiar soft voice rang out in the room, freezing his actions.
-"I'm right here, Chris." It was Asherah; she had appeared in the entryway just in time to avert Chris's beating. Wesker stopped, and hung his head, embarrassed that she had witnessed such a display. Rebecca ran across the two bickering men, and squealed with delight and relief as she attached herself to her other friend,"Ashie!! There you are! I was so worried! I thought something horrible had happened to you... Where were you?"
Asherah wasn't sure what to say, should I tell them the truth? Wesker lifted his head at Rebecca's question; he looked at his love, telling her with his expression to not say anything about them. Asherah hung her head, a sad look on her face, is he...ashamed of me? Did he, did he only use me? Her eyes were becoming cloudy with forming tears, assuming the worst. But I thought....I'm so stupid...She struggled to talk, feeling the whole room's eyes on her, including the man she loved and thought loved her. "I was-
Claire appeared with Barry behind Asherah, just in time. She could see her friend was upset. "What's going on in here? You can cut the tension with a knife for Christ's sake...” she said. Barry had noticed the growing tension too, he spotted Wesker, he finally decided to show up....with Asherah, no less. I thought I warned him, ah well, just like Wesker not to listen to anyone but himself. "Wesker, you've finally arrived. I was starting to wonder what happened to ya."
-"Yeah, so were we all." Chris responded sarcastically. Barry just shook his head, knowing that if Asherah wasn't there, Chris would already be on the ground, staring up at the ceiling of the office, courtesy of Wesker. Asherah...poor girl...I was afraid that this would happen. But why? Why would Wesker hide the truth of him and Asherah? Could it be Umbrella, was something horrible happening? It was Umbrella after all, when did something horrible not happen? Claire broke Barry's train of thought. She walked up to Asherah and whispered in her ear, "We'll talk later, okay?" Asherah just nodded her head, she couldn't find the strength to speak, not in a way that would disguise her feelings anyways. Claire crossed the room to her brother to bar him from making any more trouble, but not before passing Wesker in the process, and giving him the nastiest look she could manage. She wasn't sure what had taken place between her friend and Wesker, but she knew it must have been something big if Asherah was acting like this.
Barry couldn't help but be aware of this also. He knew he was the only one that could get to them both, even Wesker, as stubborn as he was, with the fact of the double lives that he and Wesker both were subjected to thanks to Umbrella. "Well, kiddos", he said, "I hate to be the one to break up this beautiful reunion, but I think me, Wesker and Asherah have some business to discuss. If you all don't mind, that is..." Just as Chris went to open his mouth, Jill piped up, taking the cue. "Of course not, Barry, go ahead. Maybe break up the testerone in here...” she said as she looked from Chris to Wesker accusingly. Wesker nodded his head, he didn't like being forced into anything, but even he knew he couldn't escape this one. He felt badly for the way he was treating his Asherah, but it was necessary. She knows I wouldn't ever intentionally hurt her, didn't she? Maybe not... I don't know what to do Asherah! I've never felt this before, not until you. I'm just trying to protect you, can't you see that!? You've made me happy for the first time in my life. I love you too much to ever lose you, especially to them. If Alfred ever laid a disgusting finger on you, I'd cut off his whole fuckin' hand!! Wesker came back from his unsettling thoughts long enough to calmly respond to Barry. "Fine, we can talk in my room", he said coldly, not wanting anyone to know his true feelings on the subject. Barry nodded, "Okay, how bout' you Asherah, that alright?"
She nodded slowly, hurtfully, "Yeah, sure, its fine." Claire and Rebecca looked at each other with concern for their friend. We'll have to wait till' later to get her alone, Rebecca thought.
Wesker turned to leave first, but before walking away he gave Chris one last warning glare. Asherah followed hesitantly behind him, with Barry protectively walking next to her, imaging the way she must have felt. Poor Asherah...he thought again. Taking on Wesker of all people, could hardly be easy. Asherah noticed Barry seeming to be contemplating her. She shyly glanced up at him, knowing what he must be thinking, and then she quickly returned to her former position of looking intently at the passing floor boards.
Wesker opened the door, his eyes finding the bed that he and Asherah had shared only a few hours earlier. Asherah... I love you, see that...