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Sometimes this smartass was driving Chris crazy.
Gone were the first weeks with Nivans still new on his team when he had trembled in awe at everything th Captain said. Since he became Chris`s second in command, the young soldier had started questioning rules set by the BSAA. Chris, who had never been one to follow any rules but his own, probably shouldn´t blame the sniper. He had made Chris his role model, even regarding that character traid. Using your own brain was what it needed to become captain. So Chris had tolerated Nivans behaviour, a he never questioned any direct orders coming from Chris. Until now.
Chris had met with his team members at their local training ground. They had started to warm up without him and looked surprised when he showed up to the gym still in his combat gear.
"Lend me your ears for a second!"
As they´d gathered around their team leader, Chris shared the news: "HQ has just informed me about a mission. An urgent one. Our unit in Bolivia has requested reinforcements for a covert operation. I will set off tomorrow morning to join them. Piers, you´re in command as soon as I´m leaving."
The young man looked at him in disbelief."What? You´re going alone?
"I am. This mission is not a training mission, this is serious shit."
"And what do you think we are, Captain? Rookies?" Finn Macauley, their rookie, coughed softly.
Chris was already tense and on edge because of the upcoming mission. He crossed his arms over his massive chest and turned to Piers. "You´re doing goog, but you´re not trained for what awaits you in Bolivia. Not yet."
To his annoyence, Piers didn´t back off. "So they send you in without a team as backup? On a mission that´s supposed to be a suicide mission?"
"No, Nivans, they didn´t. I got to make that decision."
Piers set his jaw: "Than you are making a stupid decision." Everything went so quiet, you could have heard a neddle drop.
"What was that?" Chris stepped very close, unfolding his arms. They were nearly chest to chest now. Piers was forced to look up at him, as his catptain was several inches taller than him. Most men would be intimidated by the physical appearance of the catpain, alone. Not Piers. "Your decision to go alone is reckless."
What the hell had gotten into the young man to dare say something like that? Chris—thinking about the sixteen-hour flight to that damn mission in a hellhole—lost his patience. "And who do you thing to question my choices? You are second -second- in command. Remember who´s the captain? Right, me!"
Instead of being discuraged, Piers was also getting furious: "I´m a member of your team, sir. Team- as in: more than one person." Chris could sense the other teammembers tensing. HIs anger spiked, when Piers challenged him by getting even closer. Chris took the last step that seperated them and his hand shot up. Piers flinched. Chris stopped himself before he crossed a line he never wanted to cross. "Fall in line, soldier", he said instead "That´s an order."
Piers turned on his heels, still fuming. He crossed the gym in long strides, then let the door slam shut behind him. Chris groaned. "Don´t you guys have to run some laps or something", he barked, then left.
***********
Later that night, Chris made his way over to the refectory. Most of Alpha Team was nearly done with shoveling food into them. All, except one. "Nivans not here?" Chris tried to sound casual. He dropped his tray on the table . None of the others looked up. "No, Cap, he´s still at the gym.
"Propably had to get his frustration out.", Ben added.
"Well," Chris slammed his fork into his potatos, "not my fault, if he´s hungry and sore, tomorrow." Nobody answered. Chris sighed and looked up from his food. "You think it´s my fault, don´t you?"
Ben cleared his throught: "Look, Cap, Nivans can be dick, we all know that."
Chris looked at him, raising his eyebrows. "I sense a 'but' coming."
"It’s just... I think he really looks up to you. Up until now, the two of you have provided top-notch leadership for the team. And that was completely out of character for Piers. He usually hangs on your every word. What you say is law."
Chris rubbed his chin. "You think I overreacted?" Everyone nodded. "That bad?"
"Felt like that Batman and Robin meme."
"True, there was really something to it," said Andy with a bitter laugh.
Now Chris was completely lost. "What are you two talking about? Batman? I’m not a into comics, guys."
Finn, always helpful, held his phone right under Chris´s nose:
"Ouch", Chris said.
The others turned to leave. Ben gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder. "On the other hand, you’re the captain. And what Nivans just pulled was anything but respectful behavior toward a superior. I don't know—he's damn young; maybe he's testing his limits."
Finn was the last to leave the mess hall. Before closing the door behind Chris, he said so only Chris could hear: "Or maybe he's just worried about you, Captain."
Ouch, again.
*****************************
Piers lay on the training mat, sprawled out and gasping heavily for breath. He had taken his anger out on the punching bag. Imagining the bag was the captain’s massive torso had helped a little. Until it felt childish.
Suddenly, the bright overhead lights were blocked by a huge form looming above him. He didn´t have to look up to know it was Chris. He´d identified him by the familiar sound of his combat boots. Chris hovered above him in silence for a moment.
"Shit," Piers thought and dread filled him "Why the hell did I have to contradict my direct superior? Why the hell did I contradict Chris Redfield?"
Just as Piers decided he´d try and safe his career by apologizing, Chris spoke: "Who came up with the harebrained idea of putting the two most stubborn guys in the BSAA on the same team?” He didn´t sound particularly angry. He sounded rather amused.
“I guess that was you, captain.”
“I guess so.”
They stayed in silence for a while, Piers still on the floor, Chris standing next to him.
“Do you trust me, Nivans?” the captain suddenly asked.
Piers couldn't help but answer honestly: "I do, sir."
“But you still questioned my orders. You contradicted me. You really do trust me to make the best decisions for the team?”
Piers took a deep breath and sat up. That way, he still had to look up at Chris—though he practically always did that, in every sense of the word.
“You want me to be honest?” Chris nodded. “I do trust you to make the best decisions for the team. Always, sir. I´m just not convinced…” he stopped.
“Out with it, Nivans.”
“I´m not convinced you always make the best decisions regarding yourself. Regarding your own safety.”
Chris let out a surprised laugh. That didn't seem to be the answer he had expected. “I´ve heard that before.”
"But you're not going to reconsider your decision to go alone, are you?" Chris held out a hand and pulled him up from the mat with ease.
"No, Lieutenant, I won't." He turned toward the exit of the hall.
Before he reached the doors, Piers called after him: "Will you at least be careful, without your team by your side? You are not invincible. You´re not superman or something."
When Chris spoke, Piers could hear the amusement in his voice "I thought I might be batman.”
Piers looked at him incrediously: "What?"
"Well... batman."
And just like that, the tension between them was gone.
Piers shook his head. "Dream on. That guy is wearing tights. Besides, I’m definitely not going to be your Robin. Capes don’t suit me."