Chapter 6

Piers was driving on the way back, he is still in disbelief sitting quietly just focusing on his driving not that he needed to his driving skills are unmatched, like his skills with a rifle. Chris notices that his lieutenant is off, something about him is amiss.

The older man didn't see the fight only the after effects. The young woman who so casually flirted with his date now crumpled over her passed out friend crying and in fear.

"Piers..." He struggles to find the words to console him.

"Hmm.. What's up Chris" piers said he is focused on the road but seems distant. Hands clenched on the steering wheel but his eyes still relaxed like he is over thinking.

"About what happened back there. Was that because I kissed you?" Chris was full of guilt and regret horrible thoughts crossing his mind how he could have been so careless that he nearly caused the man he cared about to get hurt. Chris is fidgeting with his lighter he pulls out a cigarette, rolls down his window and lights it up, taking a large puff before releasing a cloud which at this speed is sucked straight out the window.

"Yes and no." His answer was so cold. It hurt Chris to hear him like this.

"I'm sorry Piers... Can you pull over I need a piss." As soon as the words left Chris' lips he obeys without question.

Chris steps out and flicks the rest of his cigarette. He takes a few steps into the bushes and begins to unzip himself, thoughts racing through his mind.

should I have taken him out maybe it was too soon. No. I couldn't have known what would happen. I shouldn't have kissed him. I shouldn't have provoked the woman. she probably told the man after we were a bit more than harsh. I guess I just didn't want to have my chances messed up by some stuck up hussy. Is it a good idea to even try and give us a shot... We do have to work together and it is looked down upon dating a colleague especially for Piers seeing as I'm his captain... And a man.. I don't know.

A noise behind him of breaking twigs rips him away from his thoughts and then a voice. He recognizes it as Piers.

"Hey Chris it's just me listen I'm sorry about earlier it's just the fight got me spooked a little. when I fought that man it wasn't even a fight I threw him with one hand and that was that. It was like fighting a child." The point piers was trying to get across was easily received.

Chris finished urinating in a bush and zipped up, he made his way back with the sniper trying to think of words. Unfortunately words are not his strong suit.

"I can't say what you did was right or wrong. I can say that I like that you stuck up for yourself. You are not losing control... You can't lose what you never had to begin with you have only just got your abilities and haven't even trained them yet so yeah your power will be erratic" Chris explained as he puts his hands on Piers shoulders giving a slight massage working on his knotted shoulders and neck.

"Come on let's head back before..." Chris stopped himself there. He has realized he doesn't want his first time with Piers to be while he is feeling like this.

"Okay Captain" Piers flinches as he expects to be shouted at for using Captain. Nothing. Chris doesn't even acknowledge it even though inside his heart sank but he refused to show it. He just carries on walking to the car, he spins around to face the sniper and reaches for the keys.

"I'll drive" he says expressionless. Piers doesn't question just hands over the keys and makes his way around to the passenger side of the Silver Ford mustang.

they both notice the sun starting to set, the last moments of the light turning the majority of the sky a red and orange. Piers halts before getting in and just stands there soaking in the last natural warmth of the day, his eyes close, his features relax.

Chris steps around the car behind Piers and takes hold of his hand as he takes his place beside him his eyes remain closed not even a flinch from him. Chris looks at his lieutenants face admiring his beauty enhanced in the light. Piers feels the older man's eyes on him, his eyes open and find their way to the Captain losing himself in the dark brown orbs.

"Don't be afraid of your potential. If you are afraid of hurting innocents I will deal with them you just step behind me. I can't begin to imagine how you feel. When I first started working out I use to break things all the time until I got use to my strength. You will get use to it and be able to hold back, until then I will fight for you." His hand wraps around the younger man's neck as if to keep his attention.

He says nothing, only nods in acceptance. Chris pulls him closer to meet there lips, his free hand wrapping around Piers' waist holding him closer as the kiss deepens.

The sun had now set and darkness enveloped them. The sniper's belly began to growl.

"Come on let's get back, I'll get the pans rattling" he said with a cheeky grin painted across his face. Piers couldn't help but smile back it has been such a long time since he genuinely smiled and he is glad his Captain is the one to cause it.

The drive back remained uneventful. They finally reached the apartment Chris lives in, it's a 2 storey listed building with a set of stone steps in the side of building and beside that was a drive which ended with a fence and gate. Piers assumed this led to a garden of sorts, he himself had never been to his Captains apartment. As the car pulled on to the drive he tried to guess which apartment he lived in. Chris switched off the engine and stepped out, when piers gasped as he realized he had none of his belongings with him. He jumped out the car and informed Chris of his dilemma.

"Don't worry I took the liberty of buying you some stuff and set them up for you while you were in the hospital, I hope I have remembered everything but if not no matter we will go get you more stuff" he seemed quite proud of the fact he had proven himself competent in caring for someone.

"But what about my stuff at my place" Piers said raising an eyebrow. Chris waved away the question. "Leave it there if you are able to and of you would like to you can go back there to live in the future." Chris seemed to have thought of everything.

He gives Piers his set of keys and tells him to head up the stairs he just needed to grab a few things from the boot of his car. Piers obliges and starts making his way up the stairs.

As Chris pops the boot open a large gym bag is sat in there along with a small wrapped rectangular box, a tag hanging off it saying Piers' name. He collects both and slings the bag over his shoulder while pocketing the box. He follows his new room mate up the stairs.

The door opens easily for Piers as he steps in he is greeted by a cleanly smell as if someone had air freshener dispensers around. His thoughts were confirmed when he hears a puff from a small device plugged into the wall underneath a shelf, which itself was cluttered with week old mail and bills. The walls a light grey colour and just to the left opposite the shelf he sees a shoe rack. He toes off his boots and places them in the rack and proceeds through the apartment to find the lounge there aren't many personal touches in the apartment a few photographs all of a young red haired girl this must be Claire his Captains younger sister, he has never met her in person only spoke to her on the phone. He doesn't even think Claire knows what he looks like. Which is true she has never seen what he looks like.

The lounge was just as bare only a 3 seater sofa a large flat screen tv and an Xbox, wires wrapped and put away neatly. Evidently Chris had made an effort concerning his arrival, the only other things was a bookcase filled with DVDs and games but no books, a large well used oak coffee table with a class center and a dining table against the far wall.

A picture catches his eye it's of a young man maybe a little younger than himself in a brown leather jacket smooth face and a pair of aviators covering his eyes he is all in all well groomed and his hair styled a lot like his own now, the young claire sat on his shoulders arms in the air striking a pose, panic across his face obviously afraid she will fall. He really cares about her Piers can tell.

"That picture was taken when I was still in the air force not long after our parents passed away" a look of sadness sweeps his face and just as fast it is replaced with a warm smile. Piers decides not to push the matter.

"I can see you love her very much" he is one of the few people that know anything about his past, even if Chris doesn't know he knows. He found out from Claire that when their parents had died Chris raised her that's why he had to leave the air force, he couldn't keep moving her around and a boarding school was out of the question, so he gave it up. A number of years later after racoon city and the mansion incidents he Co-founded the BSAA with Jill Valentine.

"Yeah she is like a daughter to me" that same look appears again and just as fast changes. Piers takes his hands on his.

"I know I spoke to Claire she told me everything" Chris looked really surprised at this but didn't want to discuss this anymore. Instead he heads into the kitchen this room is much more bare than the others white walls bare essentials and nothing more. He grabs 2 beers from the fridge and opens one to give to Piers who had accompanied him to the kitchen. The younger accepts the beer and takes a mouthful as Chris opens his and does the same, he then turns and opens the cupboards and shows piers where everything can be found. All of which are brimming with a variety of food and drinks.

"Help yourself at anytime if you need anything else let me know still pick it up for you" Chris had gone over the top with the groceries. All cupboards had no more room to fit anything else.

"Oh I have something else for you, a gift of sorts" he presented the small wrapped box. He takes it thanking Chris and proceeds to unwrap, inside was a set of keys assuming they are to this apartment but that was not the gift. Hanging from a chain a small replica of his anti material rifle.

"Its amazing I don't know what to say" a lump caught in his throat, he took it out and ran his fingers along his miniature rifle.

"I took your rifle from the base and had a man make the replica... The rifle is in your room" he nods towards the kitchen draw.

"But the rifle belongs to the BSAA" he looked concerned that his Captain stole a weapon.

Chris takes an envelope out of one of the draws and hands it to Piers. "not anymore" Chris smiled as Piers opened and stated at the licence for his new old rifle.

Piers could feel his emotions welling up inside.

"Why did you do this" tears in his eyes, bottom lip trembling. He has never had someone do anything for him before apart from his parents (which was not often), he has never had someone care about him before either.

"Because I want to, do I need a reason?" The smile still on his face but now more loving. "Time and to eat I think it's been long enough... What do you fancy?" He clapped his hands together.

"hmm... I'll let you decide" Piers said a slight smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Okay head into the lounge while I cook something, there's video games or tv on and shower is down the hall first door on the left a fresh set of clothes and a towel is in there" Piers nods and makes his way to the bathroom and looks on the shelf, beside the mirror neatly folded is a pair of jeans and a light grey shirt, both to his size and beneath that a large towel with a bag on it full of all the products he normally used down to the toothpaste. He smiled to himself then grabs the products he needs for his shower even the brands are the same, he really did pay attention to Piers. After he is out of the shower and ready with his hair styled and looking smart he heads to the lounge he takes out his phone and texts the one person he can think of his aunt the only member of his family that knows he is gay.

To: Aunt Martha

Hey, how are you sorry I haven't been in touch for a while been on a mission in China. I'm getting 2 medals for it the medal of honour and national defence service medal. Do you think dad would come to the ceremony. He hasn't spoken to me since I joined the BSAA.

Love you

P x

He places the phone back in his pocket and switches on the tv. The news comes on, reports from the China incident still in the headlines, interviews from the victims and authorities about the events. So much death. Lanshiang still crawling with infected plans to do with what happened to raccoon city and to both Lanshiang and tall oaks.

what the fuck is happening to the world? 8 months leave... I really doubt we will get anywhere near that long before being called back in.

His phone goes off again it's a call. He takes it out and looks at the ID, it's Aunt Martha. He presses accept and Martha begins speaking right away.

"Pierson, how are you doing it's all over the news what's happened? Were you really in the middle of all that in china." Concern peaking in the woman's voice.

"Sort of Aunt Martha. It's actually my fault that Lanshiang is the way it is now. " his voice broke as the words came out.

"how could it be your fault. Your one man" she was trying to reassure him.

"The missile, I was suppose to stop it..." he clears the lump from his throat and continues. "I was on the ship they were launching from and my Captain was covering me with a Harrier Jet... I got to the controls and cancelled the detonation. I should have checked for a back up launch but I was stupid." Piers broke down tears streaming down his face.

"listen Piers you know you did all you could in your position, you didn't launch the missile they did. But there is something else I was told about your battle with that creature in the facility, what you did with the virus... Why?" she said in a voice as gentle as she could manage.

"Chris told you didn't he?" Deep down he knew the answer to that. "yes me and Chris fought Haos and defeated it." that's all he would say.

"There is more to it I know, He told me he barely fought, it was you that killed it... After you infected yourself, you are a hero, you saved the world and your Captain. He admires you, do you know that? Have you told him how you feel or has he told you yet?" Piers knew his Aunt would always say the right things to help him. She has been there for him through all his tough times and good times.

"It wasn't just me he landed the finishing blow and yeah we have sort of admitted we like each other" Piers says blushing slightly.

"That is good! a step forward no matter how small is still a step forward, I must go soon but before I do is it true you are still infected?" this was the question she had been itching to ask.

"Yes Aunt Martha I am but the virus isn't contagious but it is an enhanced strain so now I have abilities I am not sure of them all yet I only know of 2 so far. My physical mutation is gone though so I look the same as always. I'm not a threat... I think" he didn't sound sure and his Aunt noticed.

"you are not a threat to anyone, if you could do what you did while infected on that level, you most certainly are not a threat. Now I must go. I love you Piers and I'm here if you need me. Send my love to your Captain as well." They said their goodbyes and ended the call.

He got up and walked over to the picture of Chris and his sister. Running a finger along his young Captains face. That was when Chris came in holding 2 plates with home made lasagne on each, a stained apron hung around his neck. Piers liked this version of Chris he never knew he could actually cook let alone be good at it.

"Smells amazing Chris." He walks over to his place at the dining table noting that Chris must have entered while Piers was on the phone and quietly laid the table, napkins, a red candle the works. "Is this gonna be one of them dates." Chris just winks at him and takes off the apron to reveal that he has also changed outfits as well. He has his own shirt on a dark blue top 2 buttons undone to show the top of his breast muscles and collar the shirt hugged his body showing all details of his muscles through it and his pants a light denim blue stretching to accommodate his thick legs. As Chris places the apron down. Piers sneaks a peak at the ass of his date. He definitely likes what he sees the pants are a good choice. It just so happened to be that the clothes that Chris had bought him were clearly bought so Chris can see the details of Piers' body as well it hugged his own body revealing his own muscles. Chris clearly got tired of using his imagination. Piers was still admiring his Captain when he looked down and saw bright pink flamingos socks.

"What are those!?" Piers had to cover his mouth in an attempt to not laugh at the sight.

"They are my lucky socks." Chris stated matter of factly.

"Why do you need luck. This maybe a date but I'm not putting out on the first one." Piers said coldly.

"Oh.. I'll just go change them then..." He waited a moment to see Piers' reaction. There it was the shock he thought Chris was being serious. "I'm joking I am wearing my lucky socks in the hopes that I don't fuck anything up" he says as he lifts his hand and in it is a small remote, he clicks a button and soft piano music starts to play. He really had thought of everything.

Piers let's a huge smile form. "Smooth, real smooth..."