All RE Characters belong to Capcom
Piers grimace when he hears his captain once again throwing up in the bathroom. The man has been there the entire morning- emptying the content of his stomach. The ace doesn't want know the hangover Chris must be going through right now. He knows this isn't the first time and he would think Chris would think it twice before drinking so heavily again, but from what information he's gotten, Chris is more drunk than sober most of the time.
Piers was able to convince Chris to come with him, but the BSAA captain refused. Until the ace offered the man more alcohol, a place to sleep and food. He underestimated his captain. He didn't receive the nickname 'Bearfield' for nothing. The man eats and sleeps like a bear. Piers was actually scared Chris would eat the wrapping of the hamburger wrap with how revenues he was eating. Piers hopes it's not because Chris is wasting his money on liquor and not food. Chris does look thinner and smaller than what he remembers him to be. His hair is unkempt and facial hair outgrown. Chris' skin looks a sickly pale, even though it's still darker than Piers'. There are dark circles under his eyes, and Piers knows it's from the lack of sleep.
After Chris ate like he hasn't seen food in days, they went back to the hotel Piers is staying at. The soldiers staying in the same hotel of Piers didn't say anything when Chris and Piers entered Piers' room. After all, they were leaving Piers take care of the SOU captain. The ace couldn't talk to Chris since the man was too drunk to even coordinate his movement, and Piers knows Chris won't remember what he tells him now. So that night Piers sat on the couch, watching as Chris took hours to finally fall asleep only to twist and turned in his sleep. It is the silent tear that graces his cheek that has the ace steps closer to Chris, and runs his fingers through his hair, and gently kiss the tear away. "I know it's hard. I know it hurts…" Piers says gently. Piers' soothing voice and gentle touch seems to calm down Chris as he shifts in his sleep and covers himself with the blanket. Piers walks back to his chair and before he knows it he's nodding off, even though he told himself he wouldn't fall asleep- scared Chris would run away if he does. It's the bear of a snore that jolts him awake again. Hazel eyes return his captain, and he can see the man has fully calmed down and is now snoring loudly. He never thought hearing his captain loud snore can calm him as much as it did. From the looks of it, the nightmares have subsided for now.
"You alright in there captain?" Piers asks while knocking with the back of his knuckles. "Can I come in?" He asks.
There is a shuffling sound on otherside of the door before there is a click of the lock being turned. A part of Piers hopes it wasn't Chris locking the door instead of opening it. Testing the doorknob by moving it back and forth before pushing against the door, Piers is relieved to know it is now unlocked.
When Piers steps in, he sees his captain sitting on the toilet seat, slouched forward, elbows on knees and rubbing his head. His hair is still all over the place, and he looks tired. "How are you feeling?" He finds himself asking as he steps closer.
"What do you think kid?" The response generates a hum from the young sniper, not really a fan of the word kid. It makes him feel like an immature brat. "I need a drink."
"No you don't." Piers answers, grabbing a rag and wetting it. Walking over to Chris he drapes it over the back of his neck, ignoring the mild refuses to think Chris got scared over something so mild as a rag cloth. Chris isn't scared of anything, not with the shit he's been through.
The BSAA captain does not look up at Piers, his eyes somewhere far away. For a second the ace believes he has to bring Chris back to reality, but Chris speaks up before Piers could try anything. "Why are you trying to help me?" The words sound bitter, and with the silence in the room, it makes Piers' heart beat faster.
"Why wouldn't I help you. You're my-" Piers licks his lips while going on one knee. Chris is now looking at him, brown eyes trying to read why Piers stopped mid-sentence. "You're my captain." He finishes.
"That's why?" Chris says with a scoff.
Piers frowns. "Is that not good enough for you?" He challenges Chris, the hand on his lap curling into a fist.
"I thought… I thought-" Chris shakes his head as he tries to stand up and not accidentally smack Piers and make the man lose his balance and end up sitting on his ass.
Standing up quickly, Piers looks over at his captain. "You thought what?" Piers presses, not missing the hurt and confusion that flashed in those brown eyes. "What were you thinking?" Piers asks again when he sees Chris continue to head out of the bathroom. Feeling his stubborn nature take over, Piers grabs Chris' hand to stop him, but that earns a violent reaction as Chris quickly whirls around and tries to punch Piers. He ends up pushing Piers on the shoulder instead, making the man stumble back a step or two and clutch his shoulder.
Piers' eyes are wide with confusion. Chris had tried to punch him in the bar, but missed. But Chris at that time made no effort to change his fist into shove. This time, where he would have gotten him, Chris chooses to push him instead. Though the action still has Piers surprised. Chris has never actually had a problem with Piers rebelling, voicing his thoughts, or touching Chris Even when he falls out of line, Chris would talk to him. Like that time Chris tried to stop him from fighting with Jake back in Edonia. The BSAA captain had stopped him, by placing his arm across Piers' chest in an attempt to hold him back, and Piers had disrespected the BSAA captain and pushed Chris' arm down- with more force than he should have. To his captain. And yet Chris didn't yell at him, nor reprimand him, but spoke to him. It hurts Piers to see how much his captain has changed.
"Leave me alone." Chris says, as he turns to leave. "Coming here was a mistake."
"I haven't told you about yourself!" Piers almost yells after Chris, falling into step behind the man. "Chris, you have to stay. I can't lose you, again. Alpha team needs you! The BSAA needs you. The world needs you! You're the best at what we do, and there is no one who can replace you!" Piers reaches for Chris' hand again, not caring that it provoked a violent reaction last time. "Please, stay." He tries, hoping Chris would change his mind.
Chris stops walking, before he looks back at Piers. "Ok, but make it quick I need to drink something, and it better be worth my time." Chris answers Piers as he sits on the bed.
"Before I tell you, wash up." Piers says, still standing by the hotel door, feeling like a dog guarding the exit. "You stink."
A chuckle escapes Chris' lips. "Fine, I guess that's fair enough." The BSAA captain stands up and heads towards the bathroom only to stop and look at the mirror. He looks horrible. It's almost painful to watch his own reflection. Those dead eyes, and tired face. Looking up at the mirror, he can see Piers still standing by the door, his hazel eyes hiding something Chris can't seem to make out.
Suddenly, without warning, there is a sharp pain in his head, and black and white flashes of his memories penetrate his skull. He can see Piers close to him, his lips brushing his, arms around him. He can feel Piers' fingers at the nape of his neck, as he bites his lower lip and gently sucks.
"Ugh!" Chris is holding his head, his other hand on the sink to help him keep standing. He can't seem to understand what his head is doing to him. He's had flashbacks before but none like this. None of them about Piers.
Feeling those hands on his back the BSAA captain jumps and turns to face Piers. The young man is regarding him with a worried gaze, his hands inches from Chris' face.
"Captain?" The words bring a shiver down Chris' back the moment the words leave Piers' lips. The feeling of Piers' cold hand on his jaw makes him jump slightly once again, hating himself for reacting this way. "Are you ok?"
Chris shakes his head. "I don't know." Chris admits, the images once again disappearing from his conscious mind.
"Let me help you." Piers says with a small smile, guiding Chris to sit down on the closed toilet seat. Returning to the sink, Piers grabs some items before crunching down next to Chris. "I'm going to help you."
Seeing Chris close his eyes tight and nod, Piers' smile widens. Gently, he holds onto the captain's jaw and smooths out the shaving cream. "I won't hurt you." Piers reassures as he passes the razor along the man's jaw. Once Piers finishes with this task, he'll trim Chris' hair and make sure he smells like a man who is starting to find himself again and not someone who lost their way.
Thank you for reading! I'm working to update sometime this week. Hopefully!