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Chris shifted his weight from one foot to the other, blatantly betraying his anxiety. The training ring was completely empty and he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing for him. On second thought, it was definitely a good thing. He didn’t need any of his mates poking fun at him for getting all hot and bothered because he was about to spar with Wesker. He could practically hear Forest’s smirk as if the taunting marksman was there. It was bad enough his so called friends took up to calling him puppy behind his back because of how his behaviour shifted around the captain.
Chris didn’t actually mind and he couldn’t really call them out on their bullshit because they were right… Even he was aware how quickly he became a yes man when Wesker called on him, practically wagging his imaginary tail. He couldn’t blame Jill for messing with him. It was all in good fun too. What he did have a problem with was how openly the other jack assess were with their teasing. Jill could be trusted to have some tact but an idiot like Forest was another matter. Even Joseph became a dunce when around the long haired git.
What twisted Chris’ mind into knots was the very real possibility of his quote unquote friends getting carried away with their innuendos and being overheard by Wesker. Chris didn’t think he could deal with that. If that ever happened he’d have to quit. He’d have to move. Another continent perhaps. Claire would understand!
The thing was, Chris was fairly certain Wesker knew how he felt. He’d given some indications he had no problem with Chris’ schoolgirl crush but it wasn’t just that. He wasn’t sure how to put it. Chris had been drawn to people before, even to the point where they rented a space in his mind for a time but what he was feeling for Wesker was different. It felt more serious and new which scared him a little… Forest used to make fun of Chris for getting close to Jill too, not that they’d ever seen one another in that way but the Bravo pointman tended to think with his dick more than his head, and it had never bothered him.
Forest eventually got bored since he wouldn’t take the bait but he was certainly getting worked up now that the troublemaker saw how Chris reddened whenever he brought up their handsome captain. When Jill was there she at least told him off if Forest was tiptoeing the line of bullying, knowing full well Chris would say nothing for fear it’d just reaffirm how hard he was actually falling for the blond. This was starting to feel like more than some silly crush and Chris didn’t know what to do with that.
He figured Wesker must know he was taken with him because if Forest figured it out then there’s no bloody way someone with an actual working brain remained oblivious. But he guessed the captain though Chris was going through a phase, like his friends. He wouldn’t tease but he didn’t seem bothered by Chris’ interest either. But what would Wesker think if he found how down bad he really was for him? Sure, a star struck puppy wagging his tail was cute but a horny hound was a whole other matter.
So why the fuck did he agree to this training session?! Chris groaned and ran his hand through his hair. He tugged at the short strands in a nervous thick of his as he chastised himself again for ever thinking this wasn’t going to backfire. If it was anyone else it would have been fine, but sparring one-on-one with the object of his more mature rated dreams seemed like the plot of a bad porno. Two hot bodies writhing and grinding together, grappling to get the upper hand while sweat sleeked their bodies…
Chris actually slapped himself to halt his stupid imagination from going further. Oh fuck, he was pretty sure his blush stretched all the way down his chest and he took rapid breaths to try and subdue the heat in his cheeks before his sparring partner joined him. Chris had absolutely no issue wrestling with any of his teammates but when he was tussling with Richard he wasn’t worried he’d get a fucking erection like he’d just hit puberty or something! Chris glanced around him and properly considered making a run for the fire exit. He was sure he could come up with an excuse why he suddenly had to run out later… He could always say his apartment flooded or something and he got a call from his landlord so he had to go since it was an emergency…
‘Are you feeling alright Chris? You look flushed.’ The younger man squeaked at the unexpectedly close voice before he hid the noise in a very manly coughing fit. He’d been so preoccupied with constructing a lie to get away from facing Wesker he completely missed Wesker facing him.
‘Ah, yeah! I’m fine.’ Wesker glanced at him the way Jill usually did when she knew he was lying but left it at that. He wasn’t wearing his sunglasses. It made sense since they were about to spar but Chris found it really hard to look into the piercing blue eyes. He always felt like Wesker could read his mind whenever he looked straight at him and right now, Chris didn’t want his captain anywhere near his thoughts!
‘Alright. Shall we then? Sorry to keep you waiting.’ Chris shook his head. He’d finished changing into his workout gear first because he’d practically tripped over his own two feet to get out of the shared changing room before, heaven forbid, he caught more of a glimpse of Wesker’s skin. Having seen him unbutton his shirt and reveal his naked chest had been about all he’d managed to handle. His mouth went a little drier at the invasive memory alone and he rapidly shooed it away.
‘It’s cool.’ His answer was a little too quick to sound natural but this too went unquestioned by Wesker. He dutifully followed his captain into the centre of the ring, almost succeeding in keeping his eyes from sliding low enough to catch a nice view of his ass in the sinfully tight shorts. When he was at work he usually got derailed from openly eyeing Wesker’s goods by the mortification of getting caught in the act by one of the other S.T.A.R.S.s but there was no-one else here so a little peak didn’t seem that dangerous…
‘I’ve been watching you Chris.’ The younger man nearly choked on a gasp, terrified he’d been caught in the act when Wesker stopped but when he snapped back up, the blond was still turned away from him. He faced him now.
‘Watching me, sir?’ Well that didn’t get his heart beating out of sync… Not at all!
‘Yes. I’ve been tracking your progress and I must say, you’ve come a long way. You were always exceptional at close combat and you know it’s one of the reasons I recruited you but you’ve surpassed even my high expectations.’ Well that wasn’t playing fair! There was no way Chris could stop his cheeks from flaring up after hearing such praise.
‘Th-Thanks.’ Chris had to calm the hell down before he spontaneously combusted. He’d always been especially susceptible to compliments and coming from Wesker of all people was turning his inner furnace to a boil. ‘Is-Is that why you asked to meet me here?’ Chris needed to buy himself a little more time to settle down before he had to struggle with ignoring the mental image of Wesker’s legs hugging his waist to incapacitate him. He really, really, really should have made a run for it.
‘Indeed. I’d like to test your growth for myself.’ Chris knew what Wesker meant but he really wished he phrased it a different way. At this rate he’d test the younger man’s growth all-right… ‘We’re not going to do anything too taxing today. I’m aware you were out on the field earlier and it’s not my intention to overwork you but I think you can handle a few simple drills?’ Chris nodded eagerly, his head all turned around with the praise. He hadn’t had to do much while out on the routine patrol but he kept that to himself. Hopefully keeping things simple would mean he got out of there faster and Chris planned to make a beeline for the nearest bathroom…
‘Good. I noticed your strength lies in your ability to adapt quickly so I don’t think repeating techniques will be the best approach. We’ll keep it freeform today. All I want you to do is to subdue me.’ Chris groaned and rapidly reminded himself Wesker was talking in the strictest, most professional sense of the word and not at all the filth his hormones bombarded his mind with. Wesker did him the courtesy of continuing and not noting the flush which returned with a vengeance. ‘Once you complete this, we’re done. It shouldn’t be a problem. However, I won’t go easy on you.’ Wesker grinned at him, attempting some levity but Chris was too busy struggling to school his expression to return it.
‘Ok.’ Chris was keeping his answers short and clipped, mostly because he was afraid his voice’d crack like he’d regressed ten years, but even to his own ears he came off as sullen. Like he didn’t want to be there when in reality he was genuinely grateful his captain was taking precious time out of his day to help him better himself. He’d seen more than most, and not because he’d been staring excessively, the growing signs of exhaustion paling Wesker’s handsome face when he stayed behind in the office. The man was a workaholic for sure and still, he was willing to spare time for him and here Chris was spitting in his face because he was afraid of getting a boner? Honestly, he needed to do better if he hoped to live up to Wesker’s high praise.
The blond moved swiftly and without warning, catching Chris unprepared and immediately turned him around to push him to the ground. Truthfully the brunette barely understood what happened. His arm was twisted behind him and Wesker’s weight was implacable on the small of his back. He wondered if he should tap out, taking the sting of such an instantaneous put down, or struggle. He knew he was in a very bad position and getting out of it was almost impossible. Perhaps with someone less adept at close quarter techniques but Wesker would be too quick to nullify any attempts he made to reverse their positions.
‘You know, out there you get no warnings. Chris, our training began the second we stepped into the rings. Never let your guard down.’ Chris knew all of this and he didn’t miss the hard undertone to Wesker’s voice. There was a note of disappointment there and it cut him but he deserved it.
‘Let’s try this again. Focus.’ Wesker got up, sparing Chris the indignity of having to tap out and held his hand out for the other man to take. Chris swallowed his self-disdain and accepted his captain’s aid. As soon as the fingers tightened around his forearm however, he knew he’d fucked up again.
Wesker snapped him forward, using his leverage to destabilise Chris who was just starting to get up. Without a proper footing it didn’t matter that Chris was a big guy and he cursed as he twisted his body to avoid the other reaching hand. Wesker was going for his shoulder, using a very useful pressure point press to get larger opponents docile. Chris had used this exact technique numerous times but considering he was basically in a second free-fall there wasn’t much he could do. His evasion stopped Wesker from getting a proper grip but it sacrificed even more of his foot stability so he ended up on his back regardless. He expected Wesker to press his advantage and hold him down but the blond let go so Chris fell on his ass which was so much worse.
‘What did I just say about letting your guard down?’ Wesker looked at him and if it was anyone else it would have gotten Chris’ heckles to rise in indignation. He jumped to his feet, biting back a rather unprofessional mumble. ‘Focus Chris. I know you can do better.’
Chris was getting irritated but he knew that was the opposite of what Wesker expected from him. There was no surer way to lose focus than get pissed so he pushed it down. He was making absolutely unforgivable rookie mistakes and he knew a lot had to do with who his sparring partner was but that was a flimsy excuse. Wesker would rightfully tan his hide if he found out.
This time Chris was ready when Wesker came at him. When he’d been in the army, Chris tended to rely on his brute strength to best most but after practicing with Jill a few times and almost always ending up with his face planted in the ground, she’d thought him how to use the attacker’s movements against them. Due to her slighter stature she didn’t have the option of brute strength but that didn’t stop her from being one of the most ferocious fighters he’d ever seen. She was quick, smart and resourceful and Chris had been willing to learn. He couldn’t match her speed but they’d practiced a few useful tricks which served her well.
Chris didn’t bother trying to stop Wesker’s charge and turned into the other man’s blind spot instead. He stepped up so he could breach the other man’s personal space and kicked with his foot to get Wesker to topple over while making a grab for his upper body. His approach was excellently executed but while it might have worked without a hitch against someone like Forest who was far slower to readjust in a split second, Wesker daftly turned on the balls of his foot and kicked out at Chris’ unprotected midsection. The impressive adaptability Wesker praised kicked in and Chris abandoned his attack to drop his arms and defend. Unfortunately that just served to leave his upper body wide open and since he’d foolishly wedged himself right within Wesker’s reach, it was hardly a shock when he was spun to fall hard on his knees with a pair of determined hands holding him down.
‘Better but not your best. Again.’ Chris felt Wesker press his fingers into the meat of his shoulder for a brief moment and perhaps hold the pressure just long enough for him to notice. He wasn’t sure what to make of the gesture but he was acutely aware of the touch. Maybe his captain noticed the tension of having failed again droop his stature and the act was one of reassurance? When Chris got back to his feet he could still feel the press of the digits. ‘Don’t try to predict my attacks. It’s going to dull your reflexes.’
Chris nodded, his nerves a little on edge at the repetitive failures. It wasn’t like he expected to best Wesker. He’d seen the way the older man carried himself on the field and though he didn’t usually join them when they ran their drills when he did he was a sight to behold. Wesker was one of those graceful fighters who seemed to toy with their opponents. Chris always thought he looked like a dancer but if one was stupid enough to get distracted he could demonstrate his strength in a flash. Frankly, Chris made peace he wasn’t at the other man’s level but that mattered very little when his hot blood started to rise to his head. He wasn’t the most composed on the best of days and he was still young enough to get swept up in his brashness.
This time when Wesker closed the distance between them, Chris didn’t think. He didn’t try to remember past lessons learned or Jill’s breakdowns. Wesker was right. When he had to take a shot it wasn’t like he had time to waste overthinking ballistics or environmental factors. His muscle memory did all of that automatically and he simply knew what to do to make the shot land. This was the same. He rarely considered his next action when he tussled with Forest but he was getting stuck in his own head because he didn’t want to fuck up in front of Wesker which was ironic. It was like he was a walking, talking, self-fulfilling prophecy…
Their back and forth quickly escalated into a flurry of movements. Chris kept up with Wesker surprisingly well once he started reacting and stopped trying to act. Even when the blond would suddenly alter his stance, he adapted fast enough to stay on his feet. Wesker was steadily increasing his speed, testing Chris’ limits and he was proficient enough to intuitively match the pacing without noticing. Oddly enough, he realized his biggest problem might end up being endurance. Chris had rarely if ever struggled with that but the constant speedy evasions were taking a toll on him and it wouldn’t be long before he had no choice but slow down. He couldn’t remain on the defensive indefinitely but he couldn’t find a proper time to get close to Wesker, not without giving the other man an opening and he’d already learned how stupid that was.
The chance revealed itself just as he was starting to get seriously worried after a tiny tremor tensed up his leg. He wasn’t sure if Wesker was deliberately laying a trap for him or if the usually flawless blond made a mistake, but he was leaving his waist provokingly unprotected and right within his reach too. Frankly, Chris couldn’t afford to question the opportunity. He needed to grab onto the other man’s hip and throw his centre of gravity off but Chris hesitated. The gears in his brain started spinning at the worst possible moment and he hesitated. He had to put his hand on Wesker’s waist… His unexpectedly slender waist…
The younger man’s agonising thoughts were cut short when once again, Wesker floored him. He was fairly certain the other man used extra force this time around, betraying his annoyance. If he hadn’t stopped his fall with his hand, Chris was almost certain he would have split his chin.
‘You’re disappointing me Chris. I know you saw an opening in my stance. If you don’t plan on taking this seriously then we might as well end it here. I have too much to do to waste my time.’ Wesker hadn’t hit him but his words felt just as harsh as punches. His heart sank and he shuffled to his feet, unwilling to meet the disapproving blue eyes. Wesker wasn’t wrong about him failing to do his best but Chris was absolutely taking this seriously. Perhaps too seriously. ‘Well?’ Chris flinched at the naked irritation in Wesker’s voice.
‘Sorry, it won’t happen again. I’m really taking this seriously. Sir.’ But it’s not my fault I can’t stop thinking about how tight your shorts are! He wasn’t about to share that part though…
‘Then focus. You were doing very well for a while but you kept drawing back instead of using your size to your advantage. You need to find a balance between your dexterity and your strength. I may have an advantage in speed but you were doing an excellent job of matching my footwork. Don’t neglect the importance of an offence. Otherwise even someone subpar will wear you out and that’s unacceptable.’ The younger man listened carefully, doing his best not to look too stricken for the deserved tongue lashing. A moment of silence had him struggling not to swap his weight from one foot to the other in anxiety before Wesker sighed and when he spoke again his tone was softer.
‘I know you can handle yourself brilliantly Chris, but never become complacent. It doesn’t matter how well you perform if you lose focus. It only takes one mistake.’ Chris heard the worry in his captain’s voice and he wanted to kick his own hide all over again. It couldn’t be easy being responsible for the lives of others and the other man was absolutely right. As someone who’d seen how easily life could be lost, sometimes in the most nonsensical manner, he really should have known better. It was good to get lost in his little daydreams here and there but it was his duty to make sure Wesker could depend on him and he’d failed to deliver.
‘I understand.’ Chris stood a little taller and Wesker must have seen the determination return to his features. The approving nod refortified the soldier’s spine and he waited for the captain to give another nod, signalling the resuming of their training.
This time Chris didn’t fuck around. He didn’t wait for Wesker. If he let the other man put him on the run then it would be much harder to try and break out of the rut and he’d once again put every effort just to keep up. He needed to turn the tables and make sure he didn’t give his opponent a chance to lead. As expected the blond tried to put distance between them but Chris wouldn’t allow it. Thanks to the previous encounters he didn’t need to waste time adjusting to the pace and he was comfortable focusing on cornering Wesker while keeping him sufficiently distracted with strikes.
When an opening presented itself Chris didn’t miss it this time around. He grabbed and twisted Wesker’s arm, prompting the blond to get out of it and get close to Chris. It was the only way he could turn into the hold so he could slip free but Chris was waiting for this. Instead of fighting against Wesker, he let go so he could grab his waist instead and sever his footing with a swipe of his leg. The lack of space and the push of his heavy bulk against the blond guaranteed he’d lose his balance and fall.
Wesker was quick to try and regain composure but Chris was quicker. His body seemed to take a mind of its own as he slipped into his element and it felt natural to do what he was good at. Once he stopped letting himself get in his own way that is. He was on top of the other man and pinning him down securely with his knees boxing in the slender frame. Wesker was down. He was subdued. Chris did it.
Which was naturally the moment where everything stopped going in his favour. His blessedly unperturbed mind became flooded all of a sudden by too many alarming realizations. He was sitting on top of Wesker. He was way too close to the other man’s crotch not to be aware of it. He was so close to Wesker’s face he could see there were actually two shades of blue flaking his irises. The blond was grabbing his thigh. What the fuck was he supposed to do with his hands again??!!
In a sudden move, Wesker rose up on his elbow and Chris’ brain went into complete paralysis again. The man was so close they were almost nose to nose. He knew he’d stopped breathing. He did his best not to do it but his traitorous eyes fell to Wesker’s temptingly close lips. Just a tiny, tiny bit more and he’d get to fulfil his fantasy. He’d get to taste them. He’d actually get to kiss Wesker. It didn’t seem like a bad idea…
That hand on his thigh turned out to be more than an innocent placement however and surely Chris would have put two and two together if he wasn’t so busy wondering if Wesker’s lips would have a smoky, smooth flavour to them like a good brandy or be pleasantly sweet. He might have yelped in a fairly undignified way when Wesker abruptly reversed their roles. It might have had to do something with the other man wrapping his long leg around his to get proper purchase and twist them around. It might have been the realization that Wesker’s cologne had a hint of sour cherries which he’d never been close enough to notice before now.
Chris blinked, more than a little confused to find himself on his back when he’d been so certain of his victory and unlike his dumb ass, Wesker was keeping a proper hold of him. He could have strained until he pulled a muscle and he wasn’t going to buck the man off. Chris hated how easily that mental image got the blood blooming across his cheeks. Don’t get hard, don’t get hard, don’t get hard! Chris swallowed thickly when he realized Wesker was sitting dangerously close to the one place which was even more of a threat to exposing him than Forest’s big mouth.
‘Excellent work Chris.’ The younger man was confused and showed it.
‘But… I failed. I mean, I lost focus again.’ The bitterness filled his mouth and pigmented his words. Chris had even told himself how important this seemingly standard drill was to Wesker and he’d still messed up. He expected his captain to tell him off for being such a disappointment not praise him.
‘True but that’s fine. I’ve seen what I needed to see and we both know you would have had no trouble had you faced anyone else. Yes?’ Wesker smirked at him, a teasing gesture but not mean spirited and Chris must have turned ten shades darker. He shook his head, mostly because he couldn’t find his voice. Of course the crazy tailspin plaguing his concentration was symptomatic to Wesker’s proximity and Wesker alone!
Wesker smirked again and thankfully got to his feet. Chris offered a rapid gratitude to whatever deity chose to listen because he was fairly certain he was losing the struggle with his blood flow. Wesker acknowledging his infatuation was bad enough but getting poked by his unmistakable stiffy was the sort of thing which would haunt Chris for the rest of his life. The blond offered his hand and Chris paused for a moment but figured the other wouldn’t use this as a teaching moment a second time. He let Wesker pull him to his feet and sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.
‘Would you like to continue this again tomorrow? You don’t have to agree if I’m making you uncomfortable.’ Chris’ eyes snapped to attention so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash.
‘No! I mean, you’re not…! I mean yes about tomorrow but no about you…’ Well, that didn’t make him sound like an idiot! Chris wanted to walk into traffic.
‘I’m glad to hear that.’ Normally Wesker didn’t show a lot of emotion and many mistook his character for cold but he was openly amused as he watched Chris. Even when it was at his own expense, seeing the blond actually smile for a change just made Chris like him more. ‘Then how about we try something else next time?’
‘Like what?’ Chris was a little worried. Wesker might be no nonsense at work but the glint in those eyes as he asked the question immediately made Chris think of mischief.
‘I believe you might perform better with some incentive. If you perform well I’ll be willing to consider a reward.’ Wesker folded his arms across his chest and Chris didn’t dare hope but he had to ask.
‘What kind of reward?’
‘That’s up to you. A day off can be arranged. Perhaps a break in the paperwork which I know for a fact you’re behind on?’ Chris quickly looked away at that last one.
‘What about a kiss?’ Chris didn’t realize he’d actually spoken until he heard his voice. ‘Never mind! I don’t know why I said that…! The paperwork thing sounds great…’ He was so walking into traffic. During rush hour. Chris was grateful more than ever for being here after hours and far away from any teasing ears. He couldn’t begin to imagine what the guys would say if they witnessed this colossal display of cringe.
‘Are you certain? I wouldn’t be opposed to a kiss.’ The brunette glanced up at him with adorably large eyes. ‘It’s up to you. We’ll revisit the topic again tomorrow.’ Wesker rewarded him with another one of his rare smiles and Chris’ heart all but went into cardiac arrest. ‘I’ll be leaving first. See you tomorrow.’
‘Y-Yes sir.’ Chris found his voice just in time to answer when Wesker turned to walk towards the locker rooms. His brain was churning with too many possibilities to follow right away and he didn’t think it’d be the best decision to go near his captain when he was changing… Did that just happen?!
Chris had to slowly replay the events of the evening a few times to make sure this wasn’t another one of this weird dreams which usually tended to go beyond kissing. Wesker must have walked right past him and he’d been too out of it to even notice. Later he wondered if the other man smirked in amusement at his petrified subordinate. Focusing would not be easy but Chris was determined to make it work. With such an incentive there was no way he wouldn’t wipe the floor with the other man! It wasn’t exactly how he’d dreamed their first kiss would go down but the other man lit the sort of smouldering fire inside him which could very quickly burn out of control. Too late to back out now.
First he’ll get Wesker on his back, then he’ll kiss him. Then… No! Chris had to stay focused!