Chris nervously paced back and forth in his office. He wasn't entirely sure what Piers had meant. Maybe Leon was right, maybe Piers was just talking out of his ass. Yes, while the BSAA had a strict policy on dating inside the organization, surely, no one had seemed to care. Besides, even if Piers was to file a formal complaint, he'd be investigated too. No one in this relationship was a saint and that was comfort for Chris.
Although, he'd quit months ago, Chris rummaged through his desk drawers searching for the green and white box of Marlboro's Menthols, which he kept close by for moments like this. Putting the cigarette in his mouth, he grabbed the blue Playboy lighter in his desk and lit it, slowly inhaling the poisonous smoke. Instantly, Chris' stress levels seemed to drop.
There was a knock on his door before it opened.
"Damn it Chris, I told you a million times! No smoking in the building!" Jill complained as she held her nose.
Chris stared at her blankly, mostly surprised that she was still there at this time at night. "And I told you it's menthol, so it's healthier than an apple!" He replied as he took another drag. The blonde woman rolled her eyes at her partner. "I'm on my way out, do you need a ride?" She offered still holding her nose.
"No, I still have some stuff to work on." He lied, finding himself getting annoyed at the woman in front of him.
"I'll see you tomorrow… Don't set the damn building on fire, I like my office." She said as she made her way to the door. She blew a kiss to Chris from the door before making her exit.
Enjoying his cigarette in peace, Chris sat down on the comfortable leather armchair in front of his desk. There was another knock on his door before it was opened. "What now Jill?" He asked without looking over.
Piers cleared his throat while he walked over to Chris, standing beside him.
"Chris, I'm asking you one more time, come home. We can start all over. I promise I'll be just as good as Leon, if not, better." Piers pleaded with soulful eyes.
Chris grunted as he paid no mind to the young sniper. He took another drag on his cigarette and exhaled slowly.
Soulful eyes turned to angry ones. "You can't win against me, Chris. Come home now!" the angry Piers demanded.
Chris stood up and looked down at Piers. "Let me ask you something." He began. "Were you so fucked up as a child that you think you can do the same to others?" Piers stared the older man in shock. "The world doesn't work like that, you little sadist. Remember you're only second in command on the field not in my life. Also, you refer to me as Captain when you're in MY office."
"How did you-" Piers caught himself and snapped out of his shock. "The only abuse I've suffered is from your hands. Keep it up Captain, your inappropriateness will come back to bite you in the ass." he shot back, his tone void of the hurt he was feeling.
"Oh, I know everything about you, now. Mommy didn't love you and daddy used you until you graduated high school… Is that what this is about?" Chris revealed, enjoying the reaction Piers was trying to hide.
"Muthafucka…" Piers muttered. "I promise Chris. You will regret every hurtful thing you've ever said to me!" He yelled as turned on his heels and stormed out.
Piers was flustered, which meant Chris was right. He had guessed that the young man was molested and void of any nurturing as a child; who'd've thought that he'd be right. He beamed as he was left alone in his office, he had won this battle against Piers.
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The halls in the BSAA building were chattier than usual. Soldiers were huddled around in cliques, murmuring about something. Chris looked around as he walked back to his office, raising an eyebrow when the cliques of BSAA soldiers immediately silenced themselves and stared at their Captain.
"Mornin'?" Came Chris' confused greet.
The soldiers continued to watch him with shifty eyes, silently judging him until he was in his office.
"What the fuck was that about?" He muttered to himself.
Shaking the awkwardness off, he sat down at his desk and sighed, he hadn't adjusted to sleeping alone yet. Having his own apartment was great but he forgot how it felt to wake up in a cold bedroom alone. Every night, he kept reminding himself that it was better than going home to Piers. This side definitely had greener grass than the garden he used to grow when he was with the young, talented, sniper.
With a touch of a button, his computer was turned on. He waited for it to load before starting the day off by checking various emails; one catching his eye:
Sender: Nivans_Piers
(Sent from his BSAA email address)
Re: Investigation Opened Regarding Capt. Refield's Behaviour
While deployed in Edonia under the orders of Captain Christopher Redfield, Captain of Alpha Team, I was a victim of inappropriate lewd comments referring to my childhood trauma, relentless sexual harassment, as well as sexual assault. During Alpha Team's deployment, I was uncomfortable working under Captain Redfield but never discussed it, fearing retaliation from the BSAA and/or Captain Redfield himself.
I plan on going forward with a full investigation regarding the sexual assaults which includes non consensual sexual intercourse with a highly intoxicated Captain Redfield as well as being forced to watch him masturbate to pornography.
I am not the only victim of this behaviour, I have hand written statements which have been notarized from various members of Alpha Team , including co-founder, Jillian Marie Valentine, stating that have witnessed or been a victim of Captain Redfield's vulgar actions and comments.
Until further investigation, I request that Captain Redfield be suspended indefinitely . I am willing to settle this matter out of court if proper action will be taken.
Signed,
Piers Nivans
S.O.U. Sniper
North American Branch
All colour had drained from Chris once he was done reading the email. He felt sick to his stomach as he broke out in cold sweats. As he re-read the email he felt his blood boil. How dare that conniving kid accuse him of something so vile? On top of that, how could Jill do this without talking to him about it? Surely, he was an asshole sometimes, but he had never said anything remotely out of line to his team while they were on duty. He cared too much about the BSAA and completing the mission to ever jeopardize his career. Shoving his computer off the desk, Chris stormed out of his office, almost knocking the door off it's hinges when he slammed it shut. He made his way into Jill's office and barged in, the blonde woman sitting there in shock, holding her coffee as she read the email.
''How the fuck could YOU of all people do this to me?!" Chris screamed.
Nearly in tears, she looked at her partner, her blue eyes locking with his brown ones. "Oh honey… He pulled the wool over my eyes. He had me sign something as soon as I was leaving. I told him that I was in a rush and I couldn't stop to read it… He lied to me, Chris… He said it was for a new apartment." Jill explained as the tears ran down her cheeks.
"You mean to tell me, after all the shit you preach to me about reading everything over, double and triple checking- you blindly sign something without reading it?!" Chris questioned in disbelief.
"Chris, I'm so sorry! I trusted him." The remorseful woman cried.
"You never trusted him before, all of sudden, when he needs you to sign something- you trust him. WITHOUT reading it!" He reminder her as he slammed his fist down on her desk, the loud thump echoing off the walls.
"Honey, please, I feel terrible about this. I know you never did any of those things he's saying you did. I'll find you the best lawyers in the country and I'll make sure I do everything I can to clear mine and your name." Jill promised as she wiped her tears. She reached out and placed his hands over his, gently squeezing them and holding him. "We'll take him down. I swear we will." she vowed as they locked eyes.
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"Oh Chris, we wouldn't have had to come to this, if you would have just loved me." Piers thought aloud once he finished reading his email. "If you would have tried to love me as much you did your precious Leon, we'd all be fine right now. Enjoy your downward spiral Captain, it's only a matter of time before it all becomes mine." Logging out of his account, Piers shut down the laptop that he was working on. He took a sip of his coffee as he walked towardvthe window in the break room, his eyes scanning the beauty outside.
Birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and the weather was unusually warm for this time of year. Yes, today was going to be a beautiful day and from the looks of it, more beautiful days were coming.
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AN: Piers, you sociopath, how can you do that to Chris? Next chapter will be Leon/Jake. Thanks for reading!