Summary: It should have just been a regular morning for Chris Redfield. He should have been just heading out for his usual every day job. So why did he wake up to find a certain puppy eared male in his bed?
Pairing: Nivanfield
Author's note: I'll admit to having fun with this chapter. So hence a slightly longer chapter of at least eight pages. ^^
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My Pet Peeve 08
"…What is he doing here?"
"Staying the night," Leon said giving a smirk just because he knew it would piss Piers off. Chris knew he was doing it on purpose. He knew Leon distinguished that Piers wasn't all that fond of him. Chris was only doing this because he was following Ada's advice about letting Leon stay. Though he told Piers and Leon was for added protection for the three of them, the real reason he invited Leon over was to test out a theory about Piers's sleeping habit. He wanted to know if Piers would still sneak into his bed at night if there was another warm body, a closer body near to him.
Sleeping arrangements were going to be set up as such. Leon would take the guest room. Piers would take Chris's room, and Chris would graciously sleep on the couch. There was no way he'd ever let the two guest sleep in discomfort. Besides, he used to nap out on the couch all the time, especially when he was drunk. When was the last time he'd had a good night drink anyway?
Piers wasn't happen to see the man coming inside of the house with his bags in hand like he'd be staying for a while. Honestly, with their lives being threatened the way it was, he probably would be staying a while until things blew over. Ada, from the sounds of it, still wasn't able to leave the BSAA premises. It was a surprise that Piers had been allowed. Then again, it was probably because he was under Chris's protection and he was a male that seemed plenty capable of taking care of himself. He doubted Piers would have stayed in place anyway.
Chris flopped down on the couch as he watched Leon bringing his stuff in, his eyes glancing over the paperwork in his hands that discussed the case and the autopsy of the mysterious corpse found in the parking garage. He kept glancing at the pictures, not fond of the sight of the mutilated body but beyond the need to hurl at the sight of it. It was strange to say, but he was used to seeing dead bodies in many different states. The dead Semi was still unidentified, no images matching up to him. The blood, or what they could get of it anyway, was too old for them to do anything with. It was like they'd had the body for some time now.
Was it TRICELL that was the culprit? Or was it all following Ricardo Irving's plans? Did it still have something to do with Umbrella? He wasn't sure. Maybe he'd be able to figure things out with Leon here with him.
"…And you can go buy your own food. But you're not eating what Chris and I worked to get!"
"Talking trash when you're more of a freeloader than I am."
Piers sputtered when he spoke again. "I helped him clean the house!" He yelled out, not realizing how amused Chris was to watch the tail wagging back and forth in agitation as he glared right up in Leon's face. His ears were flat too and Chris couldn't help comparing him to a little angry Chihuahua. It was like he was barking up at Leon in that territorial way because he was a visitor that he didn't like. It seemed accurate anyway.
"Ok, you two, settle down." The two arguing males looked over at him as he got up from the couch. He noticed that Piers looked away from him quickly when their eyes met, his cheeks growing a little red unless the lights were playing tricks on Chris. Waking up beside Piers this morning had been interesting. Especially since Piers recoiled from the bed so quickly his legs got tangled in the sheets and he fell out of the bed instead. But he didn't take Chris's offered hand, instead scrambling out of the room as quickly as his Semi feet could carry him.
He only seemed to calm down when Chris suggested that it must have been because his Semi body needed human warmth to sleep well. Chris tried to ignore the disappointment of Piers accepting that answer so quickly. Seriously, if Ada wanted to think that Piers really liked him in that way then she was crazy. Especially if she thought testing it with someone like Leon, who Piers hated, would help. This meant that he'd of course come to Chris again tonight. Maybe. Should he ask someone else to stay the night too? But who else could he trust? Wait, wasn't Claire supposed to visit for the weekend? That could work. Granted he didn't like the idea of Piers snuggling up against his sister.
"Here's how this is going to work," Chris said stopping beside the two. "Leon's going to sleep in the guest room. Piers, you'll sleep in my room." Piers's mouth opened slightly at that, about to say something but Chris cut him off. "I'll be sleeping on the couch."
"But Chris-"
"I don't want to hear any disputes about it," Chris said disrupting Piers again trying to ignore the little frown on his lips. "My house, my rules. So while Leon is staying here, I want you to treat him with respect. Understood, soldier?" It was a test. To see if Piers would comply if it was his captain speaking versus plain ole Chris.
Piers tensed up at the last words before he went to attention giving a quick salute to him. "…Yes sir." He didn't look happy about it, but he wouldn't fight it anymore he hoped. He was honestly surprised how easily it went, expecting more of a fight.
"Good," Chris said reaching out and ruffling his hair. "Go wash up. I'll make dinner tonight." Piers hesitated, glancing at Leon before he frowned and finally turned heading up the steps. Giving a sigh, Chris glanced at Leon before he headed to the kitchen expecting the other to follow him. "He shouldn't give you any problems for now." Maybe.
"I'm just getting over the fact that you got him tamed so well," Leon said grinning when Chris looked at him. "Like your own pet puppy."
"He's not a dog." Well mostly. He took the thawed meat from the fridge and went about making hamburgers for them. "I don't think he's used to talking to people."
"He talks to you."
"Probably because I helped him," Chris said seasoning then flattening the patties out. "Since he did bleed all over my bed."
"…I didn't know you knew how to cook." The words seemed so different in topic that it threw Chris off as he glanced over holding the meat in his hand.
"Why wouldn't I?" Leon wasn't look at him but instead was staring at the meat in Chris's hand.
"Well…every time I came over it was either Chinese takeout, pizza, or canned soup."
"…I don't have to cook all the time." He wouldn't admit that having Piers there just made him feel like cooking more. And come to think of it, when was the last time he'd gotten to drink something? Hell, when was the last time he'd actually really cooked? He couldn't recall doing it for Jill at all. And even Claire did all the cooking when she visited.
"You just suddenly started doing it when that Semi started staying here."
"It has nothing to do with that." It had everything to do with that. But he wasn't going to admit it. "I just need to start cooking more. That's all. I need to be healthier."
"…Trying to look good for him?"
"T-That's not it!" Chris said trying to glare but it was hard to do when he felt like his heart was thundering in his chest. What was he scared of? It wasn't like anything Leon was saying to him was true, right? "Look, can you actually do some work besides just standing there and trying to look pretty? There are some potatoes in the fridge. Peel those and cut them up for me." He said it as he was moving the meats over to the skillet enjoying the satisfying sound of frying meat. He was sure that Piers would appreciate it.
"Fine, you slave driver." Leon walked into the kitchen washing his hands before heading to the fridge. Chris tried to ignore the feeling of being watched by the man, like he was under inspection of being some new kind of creature. "Sure you don't want Piers in here doing this with you? I wouldn't want to make him jealous." What was that supposed to mean?
"Keep it up and I might just let him do whatever he wants to you."
"…Ouch, that's cold. At least spare me a little." The cut potatoes were tossed into the deep fryer just as Chris flipped the hamburgers over. "Fine, I won't tease you on it anymore. But at least reevaluate the situation between you and him. The last thing I want is to see you get hurt again." Because the last person he'd be smitten with had been Wesker. Leon knew that. Chris knew it. Wesker didn't. Then he died leaving behind broken sunglasses, blood, and the business card with an Umbrella symbol and the words "Say goodbye to life," on it.
"Chris?" Chris looked over to see Piers standing in the door way looking at them. He tried not to blush seeing the Semi with one of his large t-shirts on for sleep wear. He glanced over seeing Leon staring and felt an urge to reach over and cover his eyes so he couldn't see the smooth, milky legs coming out from under the shirt. He was really going to have to buy Piers some shorts or something during the night. And some underwear too now that he thought about it. Ugh, why did he think about it? It just made his cheeks redder than they were before.
"You ok, Piers?" He said using the question to change his thought process as he looked at the Semi's face frowning at the confused look in the hazel eyes. What was he holding in his hand that he kept glancing at?
"I…yeah…just…" He looked up again before he held the picture out to Chris. "Who is this?" Chris stared at the picture before he frowned.
"…Where did you get that?" He always kept that picture hidden. When Wesker was murdered, he didn't have the heart to throw it away. At the same time, he couldn't bear to look at it and concealed it away at the back of the bottom drawer to be hidden but not forgotten. It was taped there, photo side to the drawer so he didn't have to see it. So how did Piers even find it?
"…Your drawer. I was looking for a new shirt to wear when I saw this." The twisted look of confusion didn't seem to go away. "…Who is he?"
"…Wesker," Chris said turning away from the picture as he went back to the stove ignoring the look of concern coming across Leon's face. "Albert Wesker. He is…he used to be Alpha Team leader before he was killed, murdered by Umbrella."
He hated thinking about it. The broken sunglasses with one shattered lens. The blood that there seemed to be so much of that it partly outlined the body on the ground. The business card that cruelly said that one line about saying goodbye to life. He mentally saw it, saw Wesker standing there in that empty alley, reading that business card, being shot from the back or even in the head. Christ, he didn't want to think about it again. A scenario that was easy to think up even without a body there as evidence.
"…Wesker…I've…seen him before..." Chris froze up, his body tense as he looked back at Piers. Seen him before? Wesker?
"Where!" Chris was back on him in a heartbeat, both his hands gripping Piers's biceps holding on harder than he intended as he saw Piers wince. "Piers, where did you see him!"
"Chris…" Leon reached out to grab Chris's shoulder but he shrugged the hand off, his eyes staring down into the surprised hazel eyes staring up at him.
"Where, Piers! Where was he!"
"I…don't remember…I just remember…that face…Wesker…nngh…my head…" He reached up holding his head with both hands, a pained look coming across his face as he tugged at his hair. "Hurts…my head hurts…" Chris froze up at the pain, his hold loosening on Piers's biceps as he the other slumped forward passing out in his arms before he even knew what was happening.
"Piers? Piers!" He shook him slightly but it didn't wake him up. He was about to start panicking before Leon gripped his arm firmly to gain his attention.
"Get it together, big guy," Leon said frowning. "Let the kid rest up for a while. It must have been too much for his head to handle."
"Y…Yeah…yeah…" Chris calmed himself looking down at the smaller male in his arms before he carefully picked him up carrying him over to the couch and laying him down. He stood there a moment, staring down at the relaxed face, the Semi stuck in slumber land against his will, ears barely flickering on his head. He found himself trying to figure out Piers's words. He remembered Wesker. Why? Why did he remember seeing him? Where did he see him? This was going to plague him until he found the answers.
"Maybe you should go rest up a bit too," Leon said walking over to him. "We can just reheat the hamburgers later. They'll already be cooked at least so it won't take as long."
"Yeah…" Why was he having such a hard time finding more words to say? He was still confused but when he thought about it, it was possible that Piers had seen Wesker once before his death. However the question was where? It could be the important link he needed to solve this mystery. If only Piers could remember it.
"You uh…think you could get the kid a blanket or something?"
"Why?" Chris looked down and tried not to flush noticing that Piers has shifted a bit and his shirt had risen up to his thighs. He looked like he was trying to curl up on himself to keep warm but the shirt had risen with him as well and it was not helping his imagination of seeing more of him. "I'll take him upstairs. Once I get my bath, I'll come eat."
"You're being such a good master, Chris."
"Shut up," Chris said though the little joke did put a small smile on his face making him relax even more. Whatever was going on with this case, he'd figure it out. For now he needed to let Piers rest. Maybe he was starting to get some of his memories back. Maybe there would be more things that could trigger his recollection. Picking Piers up again, Chris carried him upstairs not looking down to see if the shirt rode up more or not. It definitely didn't help to feel the outline of Piers's butt on his arm. He laid him down covering him in the blankets before he took shorts and a shirt into the bathroom with him closing the door to remember that he wasn't alone this time.
The shower was quick to keep him from thinking too long about this whole situation of Wesker. He really didn't want to push himself into a slump about this again. By the time he was dressed and walking out the bathroom, Piers was sitting up in the bed looking as though he'd been sitting there for a while. He had his hand held against his head, the slight look of pain there but not looking as bad as it had earlier. He hadn't noticed Chris yet until he made himself known by walking over to the bed sitting down on the side of it to look at Piers.
"You ok?"
"…Yeah…I think so." There was still that slight look of discomfort in his eyes but otherwise he seemed ok. It didn't stop Chris from reaching out and gently massaging his head, gaining pleasure from the relaxed sigh that escaped from Piers's lips. Whatever he was doing must be helping. "I think I remember something." The eyes closed for a moment before opening again to look up at him. "About that Wesker guy."
Chris's hand stilled for a moment before he kept rubbing seeming to help ease away whatever ache was hurting the poor Semi. It didn't stop him from swallowing the lump in his throat before he continued. "What do you remember?"
"…He taught me," Piers said frowning slightly. "He taught me something…how to fight I think. And I remember…him saying your name…something to do with you…but I don't remember it all."
Chris could see that Piers trying to think about it was only making his heard hurt more. He started rubbing behind his ears almost instantly making the young Semi relax at the feeling. "Don't worry about it. Just relax or you'll make yourself sick." He waited until Piers nodded his head to pull his hand back. "I made hamburgers downstairs if you want one. It might help you feel better."
"Thanks. That sounds pretty good actually." He smiled up at him, a small one but it still made Chris happy to see it. There was just one last thing he needed to discuss.
"It uh…might be a good idea to wear some pants while Leon's here." Piers blinked lifting a brow in confusion and it just made Chris clear his throat some. "…You're …that shirt isn't long enough to… your…thighs…legs uh…it…makes Leon feel uncomfortable." He settled with those words, finding it hard to just say that he came close to exposing his goodies quite a few times. Granted he himself didn't mind that Piers didn't like pants. Ugh, he shouldn't be thinking about that. Well it wasn't like Piers hadn't already gotten an eyeful of him naked or vice versa when he first patched Piers up.
Piers gave a shudder making a face when he said the reason. "Last person I want ever seeing me like that. Ew." Chris blinked before he laughed at the response ruffling Piers's hair before he stood up from the bed trying not to question the fact that Piers didn't seem to mind Chris seeing him like that. "They're probably too big but there are some shorts in the dresser drawer. Also there are some safety pins in the jar on top of the dresser if you need to pin them so they don't fall off." They really needed to go clothes shopping for him. "We'll definitely get you some clothes that fit you this weekend."
"Yeah," Piers said smiling at him. "I feel like I'm taking all of your clothes." Chris cleared his throat at the words before he reached down helping Piers to stand.
"I'll go check on Leon. Just come done when you're ready."
"Ok." Piers nodded not seeming to even notice how he was making Chris feel as the older man left out of the room leaving the Semi alone inside. He went downstairs, trying to ignore the look on Leon's face as he mumbled something and went into the kitchen. The hamburgers were simmering on low so they wouldn't burn and the fries had been covered up in a container to keep them warm. Leon was sitting on the couch reading over the papers from the case. With Chris there now, he was opting out to instead come into the kitchen to join him.
"Everything good?" He asked to which Chris responded with a quick nod pulling out three plates.
"He's ok. He's coming down to eat with us," Chris said giving him a look. "He has pants."
"Oh good!" Leon said grinning at him as he grabbed a plate and a bun for his hamburger. "Because I swear if I keep seeing those legs I'll think he's a woman."
"He's definitely a man."
"Really?" Leon lifted a brow at that, glancing over at him. "How would you know that?"
"…" Well he did have to change his clothes the first day he'd stayed there with him. And during that he'd managed to get a good view of his nicely sized package. Ugh, don't think about it Chris. Just eat the hamburger and fries. "Did you find anything good in those papers?"
"Changing the subject on me again, huh?" Leon said laughing as he headed for the table. "I'll let it slide this time. As for finding anything, the most I can say is we need to research more on TRICELL."
"And more on Ricardo Irving," Chris said joining him at the table just as he heard feet coming down the steps. "Maybe figure out what he was trying to do by being at HQ."
"Irving…." Piers came down to join them, frowning at the name as he made his way towards the kitchen. He was wearing some shorts this time, though they were big enough to go down to his knees. And since they weren't sliding down, it was a safe bet that he pinned them in place. Chris just hoped it wasn't uncomfortable on his tail. "That name sounds familiar too."
Leon and Chris looked up at each across the table before both turning to look at Piers. "Have you heard the name before?" Chris asked eating one of the French fries and wishing it wasn't lukewarm.
"I…I think so. It sounds like I should know it." He frowned pausing in front of the stove before he started making his plate. "Do you have a picture of him?"
"Not here." Chris glanced at Leon before he continued, Piers missing the exchange as he came to sit with them. "But I'm sure I could get one. Does the name TRICELL ring a bell?"
"…T…TRICELL…TRICELL…pharmaceutical …" The hazel eyes seemed to focus on the hamburger in front of him, his face twisting up with what were probably the on comings of a headache. "Umbrella…nngh." The name Umbrella made the two agents perk up but when he saw the pain on Piers's face, Chris reached out resting his hand on his head soothingly rubbing away the aches.
"Relax…don't think on it too hard. I don't want you bursting a brain vessel or anything."
"Chris…" He looked grateful for the words as he seemed to grow less tense looking down at the hamburger before taking a bite out of it.
"It's good, huh?"
"Yeah," Piers said before he swallowed smiling showing off small fangs that Chris had never really noticed before. They were cute and he remembered that they could grow when Semi got hungry or something like that.
"You're going to make me gush from all the cuteness," Leon said though he didn't seem to be bothered by it as he smiled watching them. "By the way, Chris, you put too much salt on mine."
"If you don't like it, then don't eat it," Piers said giving him a glare from the corner of his eyes turning from shy to vindictive in a second. "In fact you can just go home."
"I'm comfortable here, thanks." Leon smirked leaning closer and messing with him on purpose now. "In fact, maybe I should just take the captain's bed."
"Do it and die," Piers said giving a little growl of frustration before he calmed again at Chris rubbing behind his ears.
"You two knock it off," Chris said. "Otherwise you're not getting any cookies that I'm going to make."
"…You bake cookies too?" Leon grinned. "You'd be a perfect wife if it weren't for the fact that you suck at cleaning."
"…We're also going to play a game together until you two can learn to cope with each other."
"A game?" Piers asked, finishing off the last of his hamburger and licking at his fingers oblivious to Chris staring at him, who was oblivious to Leon watching him with careful eyes.
"Yeah…it's called Twister."
Leon sighed hearing the game before he looked across at Chris. "Claire must be visiting."
"Yeah…and you know how she gets when it comes to penalties for losers." And he sucked at Twister. With his large, bulky body it was hard for him to move and twist. A few drinks could probably help that which he planned on incorporating into the game. He wasn't even sure if Piers could drink or not, but it'd at least help him loosen up some. If there was one way to get a person to put up with you it was a good of fashion game of competition. "So we might as well get some practice in." Because he was not going to wear the bunny suit this time if he could avoid it.
"When's she coming?"
"…Tomorrow." He just hoped she and Piers got along well. It'd be perfect so that he and Leon could do some research into TRICELL while Claire kept an eye on Piers. She was a Redfield after all. She'd have no problems of keeping a hand on things.
"You're not giving us a lot of time to work with."
"Deal with it," Chris said pushing up from the table as he gathered up the dirty dishes. "Teach Piers how the game works while I get the cookies started. Try not to kill each other." He left it at that as he left from the table and headed back into the kitchen to handle his wifely duties of baking cookies, as Leon put it.
TBC…
I think I had way too much fun with this chapter. So many emotional roller coasters but I'm looking forward to this little mini game of Twister and to Claire's visit.