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The last couple weeks have been a mess to say the least. With the government demanding reports from the BSAA, and the BSAA demanding information from the oldest Redfield. From going home to shower and grabbing something to eat quickly running back to the hospital. It’s nothing compared to what he’s had to deal with his whole life, but this? This is different! This is about Piers.
The younger man was dragged out of the ocean, completely under the effects of the C-Virus, he was violent, he was unrecognizable to most, but the moment Chris saw him, something in the young lieutenant shifted, their eyes stayed glued to each other. It gave the exact moment for one of Beta’s team members to insert the syringe into him and subdue the once very important Alpha member.
With the help of Sherry and Jake, the younger man was given the anti-C-Virus antidote and now it was just a waiting game. They weren’t completely sure that the antidote would cure the c-virus inside him, but everyone was hopeful as soon as the visual aspects of the virus began to disappear and the once beautiful young man was appearing once again. Everyone was hopeful, but no one would ever be able to tell you what the older man was feeling when the soft dry voice of his Lieutenant broke the silence one Thursday afternoon.
If anyone said that the older man broke down, broken sobs escaping, and knees falling weak before he could even move. Well, no one would believe them, the overly emotionally constipated hero being vulnerable? Yeah right!
But it was simply the truth in reality. The small Captain that was heard did in fact break him, he wasn’t sure if everything over the years was finally breaking out, but all he knew, was that this was now where he needed and wanted to be.
It took a couple more days before Piers would be able to stay awake, but each time he would wake up from his slumber, he would be awoken to the sight of the older man smiling down at him.
It was a Tuesday morning when the doctors rolled him out of his room and into the operating room. His right arm had been reacting well to the antidote, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for it to be saved. It was a long and hard conversation between he doctors, himself and Chris (who refused to leave the room and used his BSAA status against them) but ultimately, it was Piers who decided to get it amputated. He could learn how to function once more without his right arm, he knew he would, he just wanted anything related to the virus to be away from him.
The operation went well, he was wheeled back into his room a couple days later after being under observation, but the doctors were satisfied with his results and deemed him officially C-virus free. He would still have to stay in the hospital for a couple more weeks at the least as his body wasn’t completely back to normal and he would have to begin basic physiotherapy.
Throughout the younger man’s journey of rehabilitation, he discovered many things about himself that he once didn’t allow himself to appreciate. One being the man who was refusing to leave his side these past 2 months. He could tell something shifted between them, something that wasn’t just the fact that he sacrificed himself for his captain. No, no this was different, something in Chris’s face was screaming to be released, and he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
All he knew, was that each time he woke up for the day he knew either the man would walk in shortly or was already sitting by his bed, hand holding his own tightly with closed eyes.
The first time he woke up and realized the older man was holding onto his hand tightly, he smiled. Taking in the vulnerable moment that he probably wasn’t supposed to witness. He pretended to still be asleep until the larger man awoke and pulled his hand away.
It wasn’t just the hand holding, it was the way that Chris would look at him. He knew Chris’s looks perfectly; it was his job to be able to identify what was always going through his captain’s head. So, when this knew look appeared on his face one night, Piers was confused to say the least. He looked at him with big eyes, a toothy smile and would chuckle under his breath and would refuse any answers to what was so damn funny to him. He chalked it up to the older man being tired, but deep down, the more frequent these looks became, he finally realized, that maybe the captain was also trying to figure this thing out.
The talks of his discharge became a topic one Sunday morning. The doctors were content with his vitals, and his physiotherapy was going great. There truly wasn’t a real reason to keep the young lieutenant shackled to the hospital any longer.
The thought of Piers finally able to go home were quickly shut down by self-doubt. Realistically, he knew he was no longer a danger to the population, but somewhere deep within, he didn’t entirely believe it.
“What’s going through that head of yours?”
“It’s nothing Captain.” Piers whispered, his voice uncharacteristically low and weak. He knew the moment the words came out that the older man would call bullshit.
“Right, and pigs are the new cow.”
“What does that even mean?” He laughed.
“No idea, just know that whatever you’re thinking about isn’t nothing. So, spit it out or I’ll get it outta ya.”
“I just. I don’t know. It’s just.” Piers began, not knowing exactly what words he wanted to express. “Sometimes I still see myself as that monster.” He shrugged, letting out a small sigh. “I know damn well that I have no infection left in me, but when I close my eyes, I can still see myself standing down in that lab.”
“Piers.”
“Please let me say this.” He asked, his eyes began tearing up, threatening to release the emotions he was harbouring.
“I don’t regret it. What I did? I’d do it again if it meant saving you again. I know people are saying I saved them all, saved the world and that I’m a hero. But I don’t see that.” He took a breath, looking over at the man sitting beside him.
“Chris… I was selfish.” He whispered.
“What do you mean?” Chris asked, getting out of his seat and standing closer to the bed.
“I didn’t think about saving the world. I just wanted to save you.”
“Hey, you’re not selfish, not at all! You did something I would never have the courage to do. You didn’t hesitate a second.” He replied, his hand finding the soft skin on the younger man’s face, his thumb quickly wiping away the tears that were falling.
“You don’t get it… If I was down there with anyone else… I wouldn’t have done what I did.”
“Piers? What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that if people are saying I saved the world, they’re wrong! I was being selfish and only wanted to SAVE MY WORLD!”
The two men stood silent, both sets of eyes scanning each other’s faces for any hint of what was supposed to be said next.
“I… I’m sorry” Piers whispered.
“What are you apologizing for?”
“I’m making this more complicated, something’s different between us ever since this and I’m here making it about myself.” He replied, wiping away his own tears.
“So be selfish with me” Chris whispered. “Tell me what you want. Tell me what you need. Piers, I’m done running, I’m done pretending I don’t want things between us to be different. I’m tired of fighting these feelings. I’m getting older each day and I’m scared! I’m scared of missing out on what’s more important because I’m afraid to lose the one thing that actually makes sense to me!” His voice broke, his hand snatching the younger man’s in his own.
“If I misunderstood this situation, then I apologize but… I can’t pretend that you’re not my entire world either!”
“Chris…” Piers watched as the older man allowed tears to fall freely, this was the second time in this room that he witnessed the strong hero being vulnerable.
He didn’t know what to say, what could he say after that? There was only one thing he could do now and hope later he wouldn’t regret it.
He raised his left arm and pushed it towards the older man’s cheek. The sudden contact made the man jump but instinctually pressed his cheek into the soft calloused palm. He could hear a soft giggle escape the younger man’s lips before he felt his face being dragged downwards. Opening his eyes, he was met with the most gorgeous sight he could ever ask for.
Before he could think, he shifted his weight and leaned more towards the younger man and captured his lips in a soft kiss. It wasn’t much, just a soft press of lips, but his heart melted in an instant. Their lips pressed once more together, perfectly slotting together, feeling Piers’s hand tugging the back of his neck to deepen the kiss. The kiss didn’t last much longer before the two finally separated, taking in a breath of air.
“Be selfish with me and become mine.” Chris whispered, smiling that toothy smile that Piers has been seeing for a couple weeks now.
“I wouldn’t want to be anyone else’s. I’ve always been yours.” Piers replied, pressing another soft kiss onto his now lover’s cheek.