Pairing: Nivansfield

Author's Note: I apologize for the wait. But an extremely long minute on this, I'm sure. Been a lot going on x.x and lots of fics being worked on at the same time...Final Fantasy XIV and XV... DX Forgive me!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

My Pet Peeve 24

A dark forest. That's where Chris found himself when he entered Piers's mind. He was alone inside a dark forest completely lost as to where he was. Gunfire went off somewhere in the darkness behind him startling him and making his ears stiffen in fear.

Wait…ears? He reached up touching the furry appendixes in confusion. Why did he have ears? Did he have a tail too? Reaching back, he gripped hold of the long tail before he paled in panic. What the hell was happening to his body? A sound from the bushes behind him made him turn around as a person stumbled free of them. The kid straightened, his eyes growing wide in fear at seeing Chris standing there before he relaxed, his demeanor changing to relief.

"Thank god. I thought you were one of them," the kid said resting his hands on his hips trying to catch his breath. "I wouldn't stay here long. They'll kill you." He started walking past in the opposite direction of the gunfire preparing to move to another location.

"…Piers?" He was sure it was Piers. This was Piers when he was a child. He remembered him from Piers's memories. It wasn't only that, there was no way Chris wouldn't recognized those chubby cheeks or those round, hazel eyes. They were about the same height meaning that Chris must be a child Semi too. Maybe he was like this to not alter Piers's memories too much. After all, he wasn't supposed to be here.

Piers tensed up hearing his name and looked back at Chris frowning. "How do you know my real name?" Chris opened his mouth to speak but stopped at the sound of gunfire close by. Piers's eyes opened wide again before he started to run off again. But before he got too far he stopped and turned around suddenly running up to Chris.

"Come on!" Piers yelled out grabbing his hand and pulling him along as they ran. Chris didn't question it as he followed behind Piers, the two of them running from the shots fired. It felt strangely similar to the time they went to rescue Leon. It was the same warm hand, the same voice of confidence. And it was the time Chris had lost the Semi to Spencer's hand.

Maybe because of his own military training or the fact that he worked for BSAA, Chris knew how to stay alert and quiet. It seemed even easier now since he was a kid lighter in weight and size. The fact that he was a Semi itself made it even better with the extra fluidness in his steps. But why was he a Semi?

Piers kept quiet as they crept along, ears flickering as intensely as Chris felt his own did. He couldn't get used to the feeling of them or how much more easily he could hear. He could hear the pursuers following them, maybe also in part to his military experience. They must have been the older Semi from Piers's memories. He remembered seeing them gunning down Semi children like runaway pigs.

However, this Piers seemed more experienced, almost used to it. Was this from another time? Another moment where he had to run to keep his life?

The further away they moved, the less he heard the gunfire. His ears picked up the sound of running water. A river. Piers didn't look back tugging him along towards the river moving with less urgency. He paused when they got to the moving rapids letting Chris's hand go as he looked around.

"Crossing the river will allow us to escape to the city. We get there and Spencer won't be able to find us." So they were working on escaping.

"The five minutes should be about up," Piers said starting to walk towards the river. "Once they do the count and see they're short, they'll come looking for us."

"How many times have you done this?" Chris asked without thinking. Piers stared at him in confusion.

"Do you mean coming to the lake?"

"Yeah." Chris frowned. He meant the nights of being hunted but thought it best to just let it lie for now.

"…This is the first time I'm attempting it." Piers rolled his pants legs up holding his worn down boots in his hands that he didn't take long to take off. "I remember hearing the river while we were on the way here. I remembered the route to get here."

Chris looked up from removing his own boots staring in shock. "You remembered?"

"Yeah." Piers tied the boots so they stayed on top of his head before walking knee deep into the water. "Because I never intended to stay in this place." He looked back at Chris eyes sparkling thanks to the moons reflection on the river which seemed to give him an unnatural glow.

Even as a child Piers held a beautiful grace to him that seemed so unique. While Ada Wong was a Semi too, and a fairly sexy one as well, there was something about Piers was just…different. He wasn't normal by human standards of course. But neither was he normal by Semi standards. He stood out too much which was probably why Spencer set his eyes on him. Piers stood in the water with his head halfcocked staring at Chris expectantly before he folded his arms over his chest lifting a brow.

"Sooo…are you coming or not?"

Chris blinked before he stood quickly tying the shoes to his head similarly to how Piers did before rushing over to him. He tried not to blush as Piers smiled at him almost looking relieved to see that Chris was going with him.

"Let's get going then," Piers said before he dove into the water starting to swim across. The river's water was cool to the touch thanks to the chilled mountain air. Holding his breath, Chris didn't hesitate to dive in after him. He was used to the chill of the water hitting him thanks to his training. Didn't mean he liked it though.

He sucked in air when he came out of the other side. The back of his hands wiped over his eyes quickly as he squinted his face up looking around for Piers. The other was standing in front of him, just lowering down the shirt he'd wrung out covering the tattoo inked into the middle of his back. 001. It wasn't very big or very noticeable unless you looked for it. He remembered it from the collar Piers had worn around his neck before. PN001. Thinking back now, when he'd seen Piers again back at the hotel he hadn't seen the collar around his neck. What had happened to it? Had he found a way to remove it? Maybe that was why he seemed so normal now. The tattoo had seemed fresh like he'd not long ago received it. It made Chris frown to think that he was being tagged like a piece of meat.

Piers looked back at him and Chris found himself blushing again as he slipped his shoes back on trying not to think about the hardships he was sure Piers had already been through. The possibly older male stood there not seeming to be fazed by the shivers from the wet clothes as he looked around slowly, ears flickering as if listening for pursuers.

Chris stood up to join him wringing out his wet shirt as he walked over standing beside him. For the age Piers appeared to be, he seemed far too mature. Like he'd seen too much to go back to being a normal child again.

In fact, the older Piers who had lost most of his memories seemed more playful and childish than this Piers. And if Piers really had regained all of his memories, that playfulness was probably lost forever. It meant he'd have to work hard to bring it out again. Unless Piers maybe had a home and a family….

"Do you know where your parents live?"

"My parents?" Piers blinked glancing over at him before the two of them started walking. "I don't…remember my parents." Chris blinked staring back at him frowning. Had they already started playing with Piers's memories? "I lived on the streets for as long as I can remember."

"How long have you been doing this?"

"I…I don't remember." Piers frowned continuing to walk pushing past the bushes. He kept his voice low and Chris did as well. Even though they were in the clear for now, it didn't mean they were out of the woods yet, both figuratively and literally. "Spencer's been talking about moving me into the next phase."

"Next phase?" Piers didn't look surprised at the question, his feet walking faster as if more determined to escape the mountains. "What is the next phase?"

"I don't know," Piers said, worry shining in his eyes. "But this…test they're making us do is just to weed out the weaker ones." His ears deflated as his eyes grew a little more distant. "I've…seen a lot of kids get killed since being here. Gunshots. Traps. Blow to pieces by bombs and grenades. I've come so close myself to being one of those kids. It's….scary. Being that close to so much death. Seeing absolutely no emotions in the eyes of the Semi killing them." He wrapped his arms around himself and Chris wasn't sure if the shivers were from the cold or the words he spoke.

Though they didn't stop walking, Chris slid closer wrapping an arm around him protectively and gaining a little satisfaction when the smaller boy leaned on him for support.

"…I never did ask your name or how you knew my name," Piers said quietly not bothering to pull away. Chris tensed up slightly at the statement but relaxed as Piers kept talking. "I've been called by PN001 for so long that I almost forgot what my real name was."

"My name is Chris." As for explaining how he knew Piers's name, he couldn't very well say that they were actually in one of Piers's memories and that he shouldn't even be here to begin with. He was sure he was altering Piers's history by his being there but it wasn't like he knew how to escape it. If he could give Piers support just by being here, he didn't mind a little alteration.

Images flashed through Chris's head so fast that he almost didn't know it happened. Birthday cake. Candles. A card. Family and friends. People he didn't know but should have known. Dazzling hazel eyes and a happy smile.

"Chris." The call of his name pulled him away from the fading images as he looked over at Piers's gentle smile and thought he could melt right there as he swallowed. "Your name sounds so familiar…I just wish I could remember. I feel like we've met before." He shook his head, eyes softening as he stared up into Chris's brown eyes sincerely. "Thank you for being here with me."

"N…No problem." He wanted to kiss him right there. Hell, it wouldn't be cradle robbing since they were about the same age. For all he knew, Piers was probably really 20 years old right now. It'd be so easy to just lean over and….

"Chris." Chris jolted backwards looking up at Wesker as he blinked in confusion. "Don't get lost in his memories." The blond was staring down at him as cool and collected as ever. They were surrounded by dark space. It was hard for Chris to tell if they were floating or standing.

Images floated all around them like television screens all on different channels, so many that he couldn't count them if he wanted to. They were connected by a multitude of wires running this way and that which seemed to keep everything flowing. Most of them showed videos that he assumed to be memories of Piers's past. Some were snowed out as if missing data while a few others had red locks over the snowed out screens. It felt like he was invading some television studio to watching showings of things he wasn't permitted to see. An invasion of privacy but he couldn't stop himself from seeing them. One of the static filled screens with the red lock over it flickered before images started to appear on it as well.

Chris found himself moving closer to it as he stared up at it, his eyes widening as he recognized the memory.

"I remember this," he said looking at the two young Semi wading through the water. "This just happened."

"You must have found a memory that was originally locked," Wesker said walking up beside him. Chris frowned looking at the smaller version of himself, confused by the fact that he was even in the memory at all. "Of all the memories to remember…" Wesker said frowning at the screen. "I thought I had locked this one away."

"What do you mean?" Chris said looking over at him and frowning. "And why am I in this memory? There must be a mistake." He looked at the tail and ears before looking at the facial features. There was no mistaking it. Despite having ears and a tail like a Semi, this was most definitely him.

Chris stared at his younger self seeing the numbers 2025 tattooed into his back. He didn't remember ever having a tattoo like that. Wouldn't he have known if he did?

"That's…not me," Chris said more surely. "He must be using me to replace someone in his memory."

"A person can't be replaced in that significant of a memory. Considering it's in the repository of his important memories, this child is vital to him and therefore cannot be replaced." So these were all his important memories? Did that mean there was a storehouse of more memories somewhere else in Piers's mind?

Chris turned on Wesker then, glaring at him. "Then why don't I remember it? Why don't I look like a Semi right now? Why are there no numbers tattooed on my back? Why would I forget or even lack something so important?"

"When a person is on the verge of death, the little details like body features become obsolete. Your memories, however, have been missing ever since that deadly encounter."

"Deathly encounter? Verge of death?" When Wesker pointed, Chris looked back at the screen aghast at the sight displayed. Piers and his younger self had been surrounded by Semi holding guns on them. When one of them got too close to Piers, Chris rushed him grabbing the gun trying to wrestle it free. A shot went off before Chris's small form collapsed on the ground.

He didn't have to see the screen to know the rest. He remembered Piers screaming his name fighting to get to him. He remembered seeing Piers being hit in the back of the head and knocked out. He remembered the Semi parting to let Spencer and his follower Wesker come through. Then he remembered a voice speaking to him through his fading light.

"If you want to save him, stay alive." The present Chris spoke the words that had been said to him as he looked at Wesker again.

"Stay alive," Wesker said giving a small genuine smile as he started walking towards one of the blocked memories. "These locked memories hold the key to how Spencer can become essentially immortal. It is true that Piers has lived for many years and therefore is the closest thing to being an immortal that we have seen. But that doesn't mean that he can't die. He can still be killed via outside sources."

Wesker held his hands up, a clear keyboard manifesting beneath his fingers as he started typing rapidly continuing his speech. "These locked memories are what are keeping Spencer from taking over and completely wiping Piers out of existence." As he typed, the memory that Chris had just escaped from faded out before a red lock came up over it once more blocking it. "With these memories locked away along with Piers's subconscious, Spencer can't just come in and take over. After all, how can two souls inhabit one body? It's why we can't stay here too much longer."

"But he was able to use some machine to view some of Piers's memories," Chris said frowning as he walked over standing on his toes to look over Wesker's shoulders. Strange how since he wasn't in his psychical body he couldn't feel the pain in his chest. "Couldn't he figure out how to take over Piers's body from his memories?"

"He could…if he had access to them," Wesker said not even looking back but tensing slightly when Chris moved closer. "After all, there's no way he's going to be able to view locked away memories." More memories faded from view including a recent one that involved Chris getting shot by Krauser. As it faded away behind a blue lock, the red locks from the other memories changed to blue as well as if calmed down by whatever magic Wesker had placed on them. "The triggering memory of you being shot recently is what brought about the memory of you being shot in the past. With them both locked behind lock and key, we shouldn't have any more problems with Piers's subconscious mind shattering from the pressure."

Wesker pulled his fingers away, the keyboard vanishing again as he looked up at a particular memory before nodding his head. "This should secure things for a bit longer. So long as you're not idiotic enough to get shot again anyway."

"It wasn't like I intentionally got myself shot," Chris muttered under his breath before he looked up at the memory. "Is that the one Piers is hidden behind?"

"Yes…and no. His subconscious mind his held in all of his precious memories. Disturbing one disturbs the flow of them holding together. But I will say that it holds the key that Spencer is looking for." Wesker turned around looking at him from behind his shades before his eyes travelled past Chris and his mouth formed a thin line.

Chris stared up at him confused before he turned to see what Wesker saw. Standing there was a being that obvious had Piers's shape but not his usual personality. The way his body glowed red didn't help Chris feel any better as he took a step back bumping into Wesker trying not to stare into the unnatural, inhuman, glowing green eyes.

"What…or who is that?"

"A security bot," Wesker said easily not sounding the least bit surprised.

"Security bot?" Chris frowned tensing up when he saw the red Piers take a step towards him. "For what?"

"For Piers's memories," Wesker said frowning. "Apparently Piers has developed his own way of protecting himself and his memories."

"That's not really something I wanted to hear." As the security Piers started running towards them, Chris felt his body being pushed to the side by Wesker as the other took off towards the bot moving faster than the eye could see. In a flash he was right in front of bot, arm in the motion of punching the bot in the face before the bot lifted his hand blocking it keeping up with Wesker's fast movements. "Can't you do something about it?"

"Creations of the mind aren't so easily destroyed!" Wesker yelled out being pushed back. His hand dripped with blood as he breathed hard, shades sliding down his nose as he glared at the bot. "Perhaps when you went into Piers's memories earlier you triggered it."

"I triggered it?!" Chris clamped his mouth shut as the bot's eyes looked towards him. He saw the robotic human walking in his direction and scrambled to get to his feet wishing he had his gun or his knife or something. "What about you? You're the one going around locking memories away!"

"Yes, but Piers's subconscious is aware and familiar with my presence," Wesker said huffing before he rushed forward grabbing the bot from behind. "You on the other hard are an unknown intruder." He bared his teeth in frustration. "If that pathetic partner of yours were paying attention he'd notice our heart rates by now and push the butt-" Wesker never completed the words that were coming from his mouth as his image just suddenly vanished into thin air leaving Chris alone with the raging security bot as him sprint towards him freed from his captor.

One look at him and Chris took off running hard towards one of the large screens with the memories playing in repeat. He'd gotten into one of these before right? He could do it again. But instead he slammed up against it like a brick wall cursing under his breath before he turned around baring his teeth watching the bot getting closer. Wesker had obviously gotten disconnected from Piers's brain when Leon pushed the button. But why was Chris still here? He should have managed to escape it too. Why was he trapped inside Piers's personal memory bank instead of being back inside his own body? Wait… if this was Piers's mind, the place where Piers's subconscious resided then maybe….

"Piers!" He yelled the name loud and clear surprised at how he could hear his voice echoing around the spacious area. Was this place really just a room of sorts? Regardless, the words triggered something. Just as the bot came in close and had his fist ready to punch right into Chris's gut, he stopped completely frozen in his movements. Chris looked his lips nervously staring up at the bot and finding it creepy how static filled eyes seemed to somehow stare back. "Piers, can you hear me?"

"…Chris?" The voice didn't resonate from the bot like he expected but instead seemed to come from everywhere at one time. "…I don't know how you got here but you can't stay here. You have to leave." When the new words were spoken Chris thought they came from the bot himself even though he hadn't moved since Chris called Piers's name. But then there was a figure that came from behind him. This one looked like Piers but also felt like Piers. His body was covered in a blue outline and transparent as if he was nothing more than a wraith.

"Piers…?" It felt good to talk to him, to see him even if he was in this state. Was this his subconscious mind? Didn't Wesker say it was trapped in the memories? Chris rubbed at his temple. This was getting too complicated for his brain. When Piers reached out and touched the security bot, the bot dissipated into thin air leaving only Chris and Piers alone in the wide open space. Chris was still tense standing up against the memory behind him as he stared at Piers, eyes wide from surprise. He hated the fact that he tensed up when Piers got closer to him. He was sure his heart was pounding a mile a minute in his physical form as Piers reached up touching his cheek in the gentlest way possible before the hand slid behind Chris's head pulling him down into a kiss he would have never expected in a hundred million years.

Even though it ended as quickly as it happened he felt like his heart stopped for a moment even as Piers pulled back with an apologetic look to his eyes. He glanced away from Chris for a moment looking around at the memories, his eyes focusing longingly on the locked away memories before he looked at Chris again. "You have to go back now. You've been gone too long."

"…Go back?" He felt like the words were the enchanting words he needed to hear as he felt his mental form being pulled away. He got to see the longing look rest on him before his felt a pull as he was yanked back into his body.

He opened his eyes with a shuddering breath almost jumping up out of reflex before a hand on his chest pushed him to lie back down. He looked up seeing Leon's worried eyes staring back at him. A glance over showed that Wesker was sitting at the computer terminal looking back at him behind dark shades with a frown on his lips. Had he been worried?

"Damn it, Chris!" Leon yelled out, the worried look turning to anger. "Don't scare us like that!"

"Sorry," Chris said looking at Leon again giving him an apologetic smile. He sat up carefully wincing slightly as he looked down finding the blood seeping through his bandages. Great, he was going to have to get stitched up again. "What happened?"

"I don't honest know," Wesker said looking at the computer again. "We both should have returned to our bodies when the button was pushed. But somehow you were actually stuck inside."

"I…I spoke to Piers's subconscious…I think." Chris said still not sure what that was. "He…." Chris paused blushing slightly as he thought back to the kiss. "He told me to go back," he said deciding to leave that little bit of information out. Leon was looking at him suspiciously but Chris chose to ignore it instead looking at Wesker. "So what happens now?" He looked over at the body still lying on the table and frowned worriedly. He'd expected Piers to be awake now. Had they somehow failed in their mission?

Wesker didn't say anything at first as he walked over to Piers and reached down opening Piers's lids looking down into one of his eyes. From the slight grunt and the small nod he gave, he was satisfied with the results of what he saw. "Now…we wait. He should awaken soon. For now he needs to rest." He looked over at Chris suddenly. "You need to rest as well."

Chris was about to open his mouth to say he was fine but the sudden wave of nausea he felt from the blood loss made him think otherwise. "Yeah…that sounds like a good idea." Now knowing that Piers was going to be ok, rest didn't sound like a bad idea at all.

"Yeah. Besides you need to get stitched up again," Leon said as he stood up looking at Wesker and frowning before looking at Chris again. "I'm going to go check up on the girls. They should be coming back by now. They were supposed to be just going to get a few supplies for us. So…I'll leave you with Wesker for a bit." He turned suddenly giving Wesker his best glare as he flicked his hair out of his eyes. "Try anything funny on Chris and I'll kick your ass so hard you'll be able to taste the shit on my boots."

"Please…as if a pretty boy like you could keep up with me." Chris could barely keep his focus on them as his eyes slipped shut tiredly. The blood loss combined with the out of body experience was too much for him. He didn't even realize when Wesker picked him up to carry him to his temporary room and tend to his reopened room. The only thought that let his mind rest in a peaceful sleep was that he'd be able to see Piers awake soon.

TBC….