It had been about a week since the incident near the metro and nothing Chris did got it out of his dreams or his thoughts. He still couldn't wrap his head around his Captain, his Captain that had been nothing but a prude for almost three years, had actually flirted with him. His heart had been thumping wildly in his chest everyday he came into work, cheeks feeling warm when Wesker would walk by him or leave his office door open.
It didn't feel right, it felt strange but at the same time, the young man still couldn't understand it.
Why him? What in the world was so special about him of all people? There were much more attractive and stronger men on the team or even the women, Chris had always thought of himself as, well, basically inadequate for anybody. It was the reason he never had a relationship with anyone before and watched movies alone, headed to any event for the police department alone instead of going out with Jill all the time.
Maybe he was overthinking this entire situation, maybe Wesker wasn't flirting with him and it was how he naturally acted outside of the station.
That didn't really any sense but Chris couldn't keep fretting over it anyways, he still had a hard-working job to do and probably a stack full of reports that needed to be filled out. Luckily enough, his Captain hadn't brought up the snapchat application since that night and he was internally grateful that didn't add him. There was nothing worse than your cold, intimidating but incredibly attractive Captain looming over your phone.
Chris shook most of those thoughts free as he showered that morning but so, he couldn't help the few sensual hints creeping back to him.
The warm water suddenly felt incredible against his already sensitive wet skin and while biting his bottom lip, he tried experimentally running his fingers over parts of his body he thought felt good. All he had to do was imagine his Captain's strict but somehow enticing face close to his and soon enough, the gears in his mind gave him a perfect fantasy.
Sighing lowly, he balanced one hand against the tile as he tried to fight the arousal pouring through his body, knowing he had a time limit. He couldn't afford to be late again, he already missed a morning shift not too long ago and the thought of getting chewed out wasn't what he needed this morning.
Not matter how his body felt at this moment, almost begging him to just get it over with, Chris persevered through it. He could always take care of himself after work if he needed too.
After finishing the buttons on his green S. .S shirt, he rolled the sleeves up to his elbows before looking himself over in his mirror. His hair looked a bit messy but it was clean and he was shaved so after running his fingers through his hair a few times, Chris headed out into the living area of his apartment in search of his boots.
As he was looking for one of his simple necklaces in the messy drawer in the kitchen, the brunette almost jumped when he felt his phone going off on the counter.
Chris grabbed it off of the charger and scrolled through his messages, smiling tiredly when he noticed the group chat he was usually apart of with Jill and the others had been going off. He quickly added a reply before finishing getting ready, putting on his boots and not forgetting his badge or his keys. They were doing office work again so it was going to be a slow day he was sure of it.
Jill had been going off about some guy she met about a week ago, practically gushing over him in the chat and it quickly turned into her and Samantha raving about who was hotter between the STARS men. Sighing, Chris ran a hand through his drying hair as he stepped outside into the morning air, a bit foggy since it had rained all night. His phone kept going off with notifications so after stopping at a red light, he checked it again.
Jill had tried calling him a few times so he pressed the green button. "Hey Jill, what's up? You couldn't wait until I got to work?"
The woman laughed heartily on the other end, something he instantly recognized as mischievous, before she spoke. "Well I would've told you when you got here but this literally couldn't wait! I don't want you to freak out though so you have to promise me not to crash your car or anything, you know you can't afford a hospital bill." Grumbling at her choice of words, he turned onto the right lane once the light allowed him too.
"Very funny Jill but seriously, what's up? Nothing bad happened I hope?" He felt a little anxious not knowing what she was calling him for, praying on the inside that nothing happened to Claire. She was the one person he had left in his life that he still called family, he wouldn't know what to do if she got hurt or something worse.
"You're either going to really hate me or really love me after this so I'm just gonna get it over with. When I stayed late last night to get some extra work done with Richard, me and that new guy I met were sending snaps back and fourth." Chris was a little lost here but continued to listen, keeping an eye on the traffic lights. "I was in the middle of sending this really cute one with the dog ears when Captain Wesker told me he had a request and okay, please don't yell at me, but he asked for your snapchat! Can you believe it!? I didn't even know he used it, let alone being interested in it!"
At that second, Chris almost felt like his heart was going to stop completely.
Making sure to pull over on the side of road in case he got into an accident, he set his phone onto the dashboard with trembling hands as his mind went into full gear of what he was just told. Jill was still talking about it but all the brunette could hear was the roaring of excitement mixed with trepidation in his ears, not believing this was happening.
So was he right about his Captain flirting with him? Or was this just one huge misunderstanding?
Chris didn't know, he couldn't know and covered his face warmed with embarrassment with both hands. His heart was going wild inside of his chest and if it were possible, he was sure it would jump out. What was happening? Why was this happening? It had to be a mistake.
Jill's voice cut into his insistent thoughts then and he glanced at his phone. "Chris? Are you still there? Oh come on, it isn't that big of a deal dude! Isn't this what you wanted?" She sounded happy, enthusiastic even, but all the young man could think about was how mortifying this was or that his Captain could really be interested in snapchat, HIS specifically.
His ears felt scorching hot so with shaking hands, he grabbed his phone and tried to clear his throat nervously.
His heart was racing. "I uh – Jill, I've gotta go. See you at work, okay?"
Before she had a chance to interject, he quickly ended the call and covered his face with both hands. This wasn't a dream, this was REAL, he knew the woman would never lie to him about something like this and the idea terrified him. His heart was still going but knowing he couldn't afford to be late, he plugged his phone in the charging dock and drove towards the police station.
Chris wanted to smack his head against the steering wheel, wondering how this day at work was going to go. Wesker was so intimidating and handsome, he knew he would break under any small crack of pressure.
"Mister Redfield." That deep voice was the first thing he heard when he walked into the office and he felt his chest tighten, stopping to see his captain standing by the computer terminal, steely arms crossed over his chest and looking unimpressed.
Chris was sure he looked like a deer caught in the headlights, feeling a bit of heat creep into his face as he was regarded with what he knew was mild aggravation. Jill was seated at her desk but had peeked from behind her computer monitor to watch the interaction with curious eyes.
"Care to explain why you're over twenty minutes late? This is the second time in two weeks, I would hate to have to write you up." Wesker was straight forward with his questions and the young man knew better than to try and deflect. Hoping and praying that he didn't look stupid, or at least didn't look petrified, he cleared his throat and set his cup of coffee down on his desk.
"I – I'm sorry sir, I accidentally ran a red light and I had to slow down before I got into an accident. Something was wrong with the lights. It's not an excuse though and I'll make a better effort, sir." Chris held his chin high through his lie because he couldn't just tell the man that he got sidetracked and almost had a panic attack because of what Jill told him, who was snickering quietly from behind. She had to have known this was going to happen – she was such a devil sometimes.
Wesker stood silent for a few more moments, his pale face unreadable but Chris had started to become more and more anxious, wondering if he was going to get in trouble and written up but when his captain just rose a brow, he didn't know what to say. Or do. Where was his verbal lashing?
"Very well Redfield. Please, get to work and file up those reports. I expect them all to be finished at the end of the day and for them to be on my desk." Wesker stared at him for a few seconds, only the younger man seeing his reflection in those dark sunglasses, before he turned and went back inside of his office.
The door closed and Chris almost felt a breath of relief escape him when he noticed the blinds were closed.
Jill was hiding her cheeky grin behind a few sheets of paper, something the brunette scowled lightly at as he took his seat. "Don't you even start with me Jill – you knew that was going to happen!" He hissed pathetically, almost willing to drown himself in coffee.
The woman couldn't stop the laughs from coming out and swirled around in her chair so she was facing Chris, a sneaky gleam in her blue eyes.
They got to become good friends ever since joining S.T.A.R.S and though she might have had a small thing for him when they first met, she quickly realized being into women wasn't his thing and instead became something like a female ride or die, someone like Claire, they both could lean on each other and tell each other anything.
Chris adored Jill, he really cared about her but sometimes she could get a little over her head when it came to certain things and liked to try and stick her nose in his personal life.
"Oh lighten up! You've been drooling over the Captain… I mean over him ever since we started working here so don't think you can hide that from me now. You wouldn't make a move yourself so what was I supposed to do? Pass up on the chance that his hard ass might actually be into you? No way! You really need to blow off some steam." Jill taunted humorously and wiggled her manicured fingers around in his face, something he grumbled at. He knew she was kidding – well most of the time – but he was still equally embarrassed.
Thankfully, the woman knew how to keep a secret and she would never go telling everyone his personal business. Chris loved her for that. Running both hands over his warmed face, the brunette signed into his palms as he thought about the situation. It was ridiculous to think that his Captain would ever be interested in someone like him, someone low class and not experienced.
"Jill I –" He had to think about this choice of words. "I'm not really into that sort of thing, you know that I… I don't like to sleep around." He whispered lowly to her so nobody else would hear and found his pulse practically racing as the woman tilted her head fondly at him. He wondered if she knew anything about that part of his life but doubted it, he never disclosed that kind of information to anyone. What little information he had, however.
"Well, it's still worth it right? I mean, he did ask me for your snap, Chris. That has to mean something." She had a mysterious gleam in her eyes, something he couldn't place.
"Look, there's no pressure. You're able to live your life however you want and you shouldn't feel forced to do anything about it, okay? I have your back Chris, you're my best friend." She held out one of her hands to him, which he took gently and was amazed at her soft skin from her favourite lotion, her soft thumb running over his worn knuckles.
Captain Wesker opened his office door then and stopped once he noticed the two of them again sitting close to one another and holding hands. He dropped the file of unfinished paperwork onto Jill's desk, startling the women before crossing both arms over his dark blue button up. "Would you revise these for me, Valentine? I need to borrow Redfield for a few minutes."
Jill hid her oncoming smile behind her set of papers and gave the captain a salute, again that mysterious gleam shinning in her eyes. "No problem sir, take your time."
Chris almost felt his stomach drop into his stomach but after finishing the rest of his coffee, he got up from his desk and followed Wesker out into the hallway. He wondered where they were going but knew not to question the blonde man, he was in charge and he had to follow whatever he was told.
The two reached the records room on the first floor and with a puzzled expression, Chris looked around and noticed that the room was empty but some of the binders regarding S.T.A.R.S were out of place.
"I need you to help me sort through these if you do not mind, Chief Irons thought it was okay to ransack our shelf instead of coming to me first." He noticed a small vein of irritation above his brow, "Would you start with that shelf?"
Chris cleared his throat and began adjusting the fallen binders on the lowest shelf, trying to ignore his frenetic heartbeat and the fact that the two of them were alone and in a cramped space. Alone with this physically imposing and handsome Captain, his mind festering on the fact that Wesker had asked for his snapchat.
He was terrified – but also felt something else there – something he couldn't really place.
Wesker said nothing as they organized the binders by alphabetical order but his presence alone was intimidating and when one of his steely arms reached over the brunette's shoulder to put one into his place, he felt his throat get tight and got a hint of whatever cologne the man was wearing. It smelled good, it smelled incredible. Chris couldn't concentrate, being so close to the man he liked a lot was making his fingers shake putting some filing papers away.
"Something wrong, Redfield?" Wesker questioned from behind him and the young man didn't want to turn around and face him in fear of looking stupid, so instead he looked at the folders. "Ah – it's nothing Captain, sorry. I'm just thinking about something stupid… don't worry, sir."
Wesker looked down at the younger man, a small smirk forming across his thin mouth before placed the last binder he had in the section it belonged with.
There was silence for a few more moments, until the pointman yelped when a hand grabbed him by his bicep, pulled him up to his feet and pushed him back first into the shelves.
Trying not to knock over anything, Chris felt his heart pounding hard when he the blonde came close until they were almost nose to nose. They were almost touching, only a few inches of space between but that didn't matter when he so close to his commanding officer, already knowing how red his face had become. Wesker had a small smirk on his lips, letting go of his arm so he could instead place his hand against the rows of binders.
"Do not lie to me, Redfield." Wesker started casually, his sunglasses hiding his eyes but his mouth conveyed his emotions and he looked amused more than anything. "Do you think I hadn't noticed how you act around me? How you often stare at me when you're supposed to be working?"
Oh shit. Chris almost paled in horror, his chest now tightening at the idea that his captain knew about his feelings. He had tried so hard to hide how he felt, tried not to let it show but he failed obviously. Wesker was too smart to let something like that go unnoticed and in hindsight, the brunette realized he could have done a better job. "I –" He started, hearing his own heart beat in his ears, "I don't know what you mean sir, I've just been trying to do my job…"
Shaking his head, Wesker gently placed his hand on his chin, thumb curling somewhat to the two were still at eye level. Chris hadn't expected that and wanted to look away, look at anything but found it hard to do that. "You do not have to lie, trust me when I say I am not upset. In fact,"
Chris dreaded the rejection that was coming, closing his eyes and wanting to just get it over with. He couldn't handle that happening, it would be too much –
"I find it quite endearing that you like me that much." At that, Chris opened his eyes again and stared wordlessly into his sunglasses. "I have been wondering when you were going to make it known but the more time that went on, the more I realized how shy you were, self-cornered. You weren't going to come to me so I had to come to you." Feeling the heat practically burning his face made Chris hope that the floor beneath him would open and swallow him hole, his pulse speeding and his mind working at what was happening.
Wesker liked him? Wesker planned this?
"I – I don't understand." Chris stuttered, shaken to the core. "You – you like me? But why… I'm nothing, I'm…."
Wesker was amused at his rambling and let go of his chin so he could run it down his neck softly, feeling the pulse there beat against his palm. "Why is that so foreign to you? Have I not been more forthcoming in my advances? I thought last week was a good enough sign for you, I guess I was wrong."
Chris just could imagine Jill's face right now, the woman would practically bounce in her seat at being right and holy shit, she was RIGHT about this.
He couldn't help himself, the young man had to ask why. "What do you mean, sir? Wrong… how?"
Wesker tilted his head slightly, moving back somewhat and taking his hand off the shelf. He looked a bit annoyed, his brow creasing and the younger man felt insecure there now, hoping that he didn't say anything wrong. "Forgive me for intruding but I would never act on someone who's already taken. Aren't you and Miss Valentine an item? You two are always with each other so I assumed you're together."
Similar to last week, Chris couldn't stop from feeling offended and actually frowned at that suggestion. He and Jill were not together and they damn weren't into each other. They were friends, good friends, and he couldn't help the feeling of anger whenever someone suggested the opposite. He didn't know where Wesker had gotten this from – or even why he was asking – but the need to defend himself was strong.
"Captain, we already told you last week that nothing was going on, I don't know where you're getting this from. She's just my friend, that's all." Chris admonished with another small frown.
Wesker didn't look like he believed him and adjusted his sunglasses a bit. "How am I not to believe it? I wasn't aware that friends often touch each other and hold hands with each other. If you are together, I will stop pursuing you." There was something hidden in that deep voice, something that Chris knew and recognized as jealously but that couldn't be true, it just didn't seem right.
Wesker wasn't jealous… right?
"But I already told you that we aren't together, sir! Jill and I are just friends, I have no interest in her or any women at all, for that matter." Chris felt a bit exposed then, his ears warming at admitting something so personal but the blonde rose one slender brow in obvious interest and relief, something that made him flinch. A small part of him wanted Wesker close to him again, he wanted to feel his hand on him and his body pushing him back against the shelves.
"S-so, you don't have to stop – I mean you don't have to keep asking about her, I swear we're just friends. Sir." Chris was embarrassed and went to bury his face into his hands before Wesker took them into his own, bringing them back down.
Before he could react, he was suddenly back against the shelves and the man had one hand grabbing his chin, the other pressed against the binders next to his head. His mouth was dangerously close and if it were any closer, the two could kiss because of the height difference. The older man was taller but Chris loved the idea of it.
"Thank you for clarifying that because I am not keen on sharing. Once I have my sights set on someone I want, no one will get in my way." That tone was dangerous but seductive, it was like raw silk and Chris almost whined at how he sounded, never in a million years did he think this would be happening.
He was just a nobody, why did Wesker want him? It didn't seem right.
"Stop overthinking and listen to what I'm telling you, Redfield. I do not lie and I do not fool around. If you are willing, I'd like to get to know you better, get to know what you and, " He stopped momentarily and looked down over his outfit, loving how fitted his work pants were, how his shirt framed his arms and body perfectly. "What your body likes. Would you be willing?"
Chris was frozen, his feet feeling heavy like cement and his heart threatening to burst out of his chest from the adrenaline.
There was something erotic in that tone of voice, the mere thought of his captain wanting to get intimate with him lighting a fire in his belly. He wanted it, he really did but at the same time, he was scared. He had no clue about sex, what if he was terrible? What if he couldn't do it right? He couldn't stand the idea and closed his eyes, hoping his fears weren't exposed.
"I told you to stop overthinking, Redfield. You can be open with me and tell me. I do not judge." Wesker reassured him, running his thumb over his full, tempting lips. "Am I scaring you? I will stop if that's want you want, don't be afraid to tell me otherwise."
Gathering himself, Chris let out a small breath before meeting those dark sunglasses again, wondering what his eyes looked like. "No, you're not doing anything, Captain. This is all just… I'm sorry, I'm just not used to this. You're not scaring me." Before he got a response, he felt his phone chime in his pocket and wished it hadn't.
A knowing smirk rested on Wesker's face as he stepped back into his own space. "That must be that ridiculous app you were telling me about last week. Did Miss Valentine tell you that I wanted to add you? I hope I didn't come across as too forward, that was not my intention."
Chris managed to calm his heart once the two were standing apart again and nervously grabbed his phone. "You didn't, I was just surprised you wanted to add me out of everyone… it's just sending stupid photos, it's nothing special."
"Well, then I hope you do not mind if I add you right now then." His phone was sleek, black and shined perfectly and the young man could only dream of affording it. His thumb pressed onto the screen, Chris only getting a glimpse of the man's lockscreen. "Perhaps you can tell me how to take selfies, I have a feeling you know more about this than me."
Chris nervously cleared his throat and with shaking hands, he opened his phone and let the man view his information code. "Well, I – I mean I've used it a lot but mostly for stupid group chats with Jill and Whitney, it's nothing special, sir. A lot of kids use it to take photos and post them all over, I don't do that, I just use it to chat." He was only lying a bit, he did take some selfies but not all the time.
"Interesting." Was all the blonde man said and after confirming they were now added, he put his phone away and regarded Chris with a calm expression. "I hope I did not come across as too forward, I would really like to get to know you better, Redfield." His voice was oddly comforting, something that Chris had never heard before.
It was fresh, it was different and it definitely made his heart race – getting warm in the face again.
"You didn't! Uh, I mean, it's fine. I'd like…" His mouth got dry as he thought about what he was going to say to his superior office, Chris wondering if this was a good idea.
He thought for a second about the age difference and the protentional trouble they could get in but knowing the man and how he worked, he was probably good at keeping it hidden from people who didn't deserve to know. And Chris couldn't deny his feelings, he was scared but he was interested, he wanted it.
"I'd like that a lot, Captain." Chris admitted nervously, and almost jilted when Wesker smiled again before gently grabbing his chin.
They were again face to face, something oddly comforting about the scent of his cologne and his height, the brunette enjoying every second. "Wonderful. I will see you back in the office but you will hear from me soon. Very soon." That excited him almost too much.
"Finish organizing the rest of these and report back to work, it shouldn't take you too long, Redfield." And with that, his captain was out of his personal bubble and was leaving the room, Chris waiting until he was gone so he could breathe heavily into his hand.
His cheeks were scorching, his heart thumping but he felt good. He felt excited and couldn't imagine what was going to happen next, all he knew was that Wesker had shown interest, something he only thought would happen in his vivid dreams.
After he was done putting the binders back in order and picking up any loose files, he looked down at his phone in disbelief before deciding to leave the room. He wanted to tell Jill but decided against it, he had to see where this was going first.
