Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the below peice of fiction. It all belongs to Capcom
Warning: Edward's got a dirty mouth
Authors Note: I'm posting this in celebration of the release of 'Lost in Nightmares'! I've already played it and I had a blast, so I hope if you guys download it you have fun too! Also, isn't Chris' Warrior outfit the gayest thing you've ever seen, especially in the pose they gave him for the bottle cap figure?! xD Speaking of which, if any of you guys have a PS3, you should message me your username and I'll add you and we can be buddies, yo! Anyways, on with the story!
Chapter 6- STARS
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. ~Oscar Wilde~
Chris couldn't help but stare at it- it was absolutely mesmerising.
Never, in all of his life, had Christopher Redfield ever seen something so beautiful or so brilliant. He felt like he would be blinded if he looked at it too long and he almost felt unworthy to be gazing upon it.
"You should really stop staring at it," Barry mumbled under his breath as he leaned closer to Chris in hopes of snapping him out of his daze.
Looking up quickly, Chris realized that they were still standing there in the media room of the RPD, cameras and their bright lights positioned right at them as Chief Irons spoke to the media. He was leaning forward on the podium, his entire stance relaxed and uncaring as he replied to certain questions in a gruff manner.
Chris really should have been listening to what the Chief was saying, especially how it concerned him and his fellow members- but god damn, his new STARS badge was just so beautiful.
They really shouldn't have given him the badge right away; he was bound to stare at it now.
"-And so, I would like to introduce to you the new Captain of the STARS Alpha team, and the… mastermind behind this project, Albert Wesker." Chief Irons practically spat out Wesker's name before leaving the podium quickly as Wesker approached it, a polite (but forced looking) smile upon his lips as he took center stage.
"Thank you, Police Chief Irons," Wesker began as the cameras from newspaper journalists began to flash. "I would like to thank you all for showing your interest and concern for the Police Force that continually protects the citizens of this strong city. The dedicated men and women who serve the city have done a great deal for Raccoon, and they continue to do so in an effective and collected manner. Unfortunately, as many of you may know, certain situations continue to arise that put even the best trained police officers in danger. This is why a special unit was created- S.T.A.R.S.
"The few men behind me at the moment are the new faces of this important service, and will protect those who cannot protect themselves. Hopefully, over time and with more funding, more members will be added to combat the increase in violent and dangerous crimes that are being committed on a too frequent basis. With the help of STARS, I hope that this city may become a safe place for all of us. Thank you."
A flurry of activity started all at once, with questions being shouted out left, right, and center in the room, and Chris noticed that he and the other members were being dragged out of the room with Wesker at the head of the line. He, Barry, and four other men he had just met quickly followed a silent Wesker down the hallways of the police department, all of them wondering where exactly they were going.
"Where are we going?" Chris asked loudly as they turned a corner and went up a flight of stairs.
"To your new office- now be quiet and follow me," Wesker replied, not even turning his head to acknowledge Chris as they passed through the hallway with the three statues Irons had placed in a few months ago and told everyone not to touch them.
Opening another door, they entered a hallway that would soon lead to the interrogation rooms, but stopped at a door that had a new sign placed outside it.
'S.T.A.R.S. Office' was written in blue over a white background. Pulling out a small silver key, Wesker quickly unlocked the door and stepped into the room after opening it. Flicking on the lights, the small room was illuminated for all to see.
On one end of the room sat a radio and control station, new machines buzzing away as they booted up and began to collect airwave data to store inside them in case the information was ever needed. An empty bookcase was beside it, and a door was in the corner- no doubt leading to another room.
There were four desks visible in the room, three in the middle with empty cardboard boxes on them, and one at the head of the room with papers and files already on top of it. A large STARS emblem was on the wall behind the head desk, and a bookshelf sat beside it with a variety of books already sitting atop it.
"Enrico, you and your team have your own office behind that door over there. Get your men settled in and we'll have that meeting in here at six as previously discussed," Wesker said as he loosened his tie and walked over to his desk.
The man Wesker has spoken to nodded and took his men (who had introduced themselves as Forest and Edward to Chris beforehand) to the room over, excited looks gracing their features.
Meanwhile, Chris, Barry, and a new guy named Brad Vickers were left to stand in the Alpha Team office, awkwardness radiating off of them as Wesker went to his desk and scribbled down a few things on a sheet of paper before standing up and finally turning around to look at his men.
"Go to your old desks and take all of your belongings and put them in those boxes." Wesker pointed at the boxes on the empty desks. "Then come back here and get set up- after that you're free to go home… and congratulations on making it. Although I think I have already stated that."
Wesker began walking to the door with his slip of paper before Chris' voice, once again, distracted him.
"Wait, we don't even get to have a moment to soak it all in?" Chris asked, a little affronted by Wesker's aloof and rather rude behaviour. He and his new teammates had worked hard to get onto this team, and Wesker didn't even seem like he gave a fuck.
"I think you'll have plenty of time to 'soak it all in', Christopher. Besides, I would have thought you had enough time to stare at your badge." When Chris gave Wesker a look of surprise, he continued while walking to the door. "Don't think I didn't see you staring at your badge while we were in the public eye. You would have thought the damn psychologists would have written something about his obsession with shiny objects."
The last part was muttered under his breath as he left the office, but everyone had heard it. They were all silent as they stared at the door before Chris decided to say something.
"What the fuck?!" he yelled, causing Brad to jump slightly.
"Hey, don't be like that," Barry said, patting Chris' shoulder before going to one of the desks to grab a box. "He's probably just really stressed right now- his team is finally up and running and the media is all over it. It's sink or swim from now on for him."
"Yeah, but he doesn't have to be such a dick!" Chris growled out, going to grab a box as well with Brad following suit.
"I have to agree with both of you. He was being a dick, but I think he has his reasons," Brad supplied, trying to ease the tension in the room. He had only just met these two men and he could already tell that there would be more explosions to come thanks to Chris Redfield.
Chris was just upset that one of the greatest moments of his life had been ruined thanks to a dickhead with sunglasses.
"I'm just upset that one of the greatest moments of my life has been ruined thanks to a dickhead with sunglasses," Chris voiced out loud as the three men left the office, boxes in hand.
"How old are you?" Brad asked, causing Chris to glare at the shorter male.
"Old enough that I know I'm being childish, if that's what you're getting at," Chris said, shoving the box under his arm as the three of them walked down to their respective areas. Once they were down the stairs, Chris and Barry started to go off in a separate direction than Brad.
Although Chris and Barry had never met Brad before, he had still worked at the RPD for longer than the two of them. He was part of the transportation system for the RPD, working as a mechanic and a vehicle specialist. He was apparently the one behind the upkeep of the helicopters that every police officer wanted to take a ride in.
Chris was pretty jealous of Brad for snagging the spot as 'Pilot' in Alpha team, mostly because that meant Brad would get to fly them everywhere. Chris longed for the day when he could be back in the air, controlling the skies. That was the one thing he had absolutely adored about being in the Air Force- the skies.
Maybe he could convince Wesker to instate him as the backup pilot? He figured if he stopped calling the man a dickhead he might have a chance of that.
"See you guys in a bit," Brad said as he continued down a separate hallway, leaving Barry and Chris to go to the main office where all of the other officers were waiting to see two of their colleagues off and into the abyss that was S.T.A.R.S.
Stepping into the office, Chris smiled at Mike, who was already sitting in his spinney office chair.
"Hey now, I haven't left yet and you've already staked claim on that chair?" Chris said, tossing the box at Mike, who caught it before it smacked him in the face.
"I'm just preventing anyone else from taking it. You know how my old spinney chair broke, so I've longed for a new one." Winking, Mike stood up and placed the box back on the desk before tossing a few papers into it.
"It's only broken because you spun around on it too much," Chris said as he began packing his box up with random items that he figured he would need. He didn't really enjoy packing, even if it was packing up to go to a better office and a better job. Something about the idea of leaving, even if it was just up the stairs, made Chris feel a little sad.
"What's with the long face, partner?" Mike asked, causing Chris to shake his head and smile.
"It's nothing, just going to miss working with you." Mike shoved Chris' shoulder gently and laughed.
"Come on, now. Don't be getting all soft and sentimental. You're moving upstairs, that's all."
"I know, just thinking about how I am closing another chapter in my life. It's always good to reflect on that… anyways, you should take the chair before David snags it- he's got a look in his eyes," Chris said, changing the subject.
"Mm, you're right. I overheard him talkin' about snaggin' the chair from me. Probably just to spite me, too."
Wheeling the chair away from Chris' desk, Mike left Chris to shove the rest of his belongings into the box with little thought behind it. Picking it up, Chris waved at Barry, who was still packing his box (carefully, mind you), and headed back up to his new office.
Opening the door, Chris saw Wesker was back and was huddled over his desk, writing down reports and documents, no doubt. Deciding to leave the man to his work, Chris slid his box onto the desk and began unpacking with little thought behind where he was placing the items.
Humming a tune to himself, Chris slid the box further onto the desk and almost knocked the keyboard from the new computer off of the desk. The wire caught it from completely sliding off, and Chris scrambled to pick it up, losing the 'K' key in the process.
Putting the keyboard back onto the desk as casually as he could, he glanced up to see Wesker staring at him- his sunglasses gone- and his piercing grey eyes boring holes into his very existence.
"Uh… sorry, I was just… trying to catch the keyboard," Chris mumbled, feeling exposed under Wesker's intense gaze.
"Just… just don't break anything. Well, do not break more things- I see you've lost a key." Wesker let out a heavy sigh and shook his head before going back to his paperwork, breaking the gaze that had held Chris in. Nodding, Chris continued to watch Wesker for a moment before going down on all fours to search for the missing key.
Shuffling around, Chris noticed the key had fallen under the desk and let out a small sound that sounded close to 'fuck' before he reached his arm out and tried to grasp the key. More shuffling ensued and a few more swears were muttered before Chris finally snatched the key and stood up, a triumphant smile on his face.
Sitting down with an exaggerated sigh, Chris took the keyboard and tried to place the key back in its rightful place before noticing Wesker was looking at him again.
"What?" Chris asked as he slowly placed the keyboard back on the desk.
"It's nothing. Just go back to trying not to make any sounds," Wesker said as the pencil in his fingers stilled.
"Hey, before you go back to your work I want to say something." Standing up, Chris walked over to Wesker's desk and sat down on the edge, causing the older man to stiffen slightly. Ignoring Wesker's discomfort, Chris continued. "I obviously have done something to make you angry, and I just want to say I'm sorry for acting like a child today… Captain."
"It is alright, Chris- just don't do it again. I hired a professional and I expect such behaviour. Have I made myself clear?"
"Clear as day, Captain. Clear as day." Saluting Wesker, Chris smiled and waited expectantly for an apology from him as well- after all, he was being rather rude to his entire team a little while ago.
Wesker went back to his writing before he realized that Chris was still sitting on his desk, looking at him like an eager puppy dog.
"Is there… something else?" he asked, looking back up at Chris.
"Uh… don't you think you should give me an apology too? In fact, shouldn't you give Brad and Barry ones as well?"
Wesker looked at Chris for a moment before going back to his work. "I don't apologize for such trivial matters. Besides, I do not believe I was in the wrong and the apology would be meaningless. Now please get off of my desk- you're not supposed to sit on them; this is why we have chairs, Christopher."
Chris continued to sit on the desk, staring blankly at the man before him before standing up stiffly. Adjusting his shirt, Chris cracked his neck to the side before walking away slowly. Water off a duck's back… that was that.
Just let it go, Chris. Let… it… go.
"You know, you're a real ass," Chris said, spinning around while internally cringing. Why, why didn't he listen to his own advice? "If you want to earn respect from the team, I suggest you start treating us like we're part of your special squad and not just expendable crewmen. Remember, a leader is only as good as his subordinates, and I can make your life a living hell if you continue to be such a dickhead."
Yup, Chris could definitely kiss that 'Pilot' position goodbye.
**XX**
"You mean you actually said that?! No wonder he looked ready to murder when I came back into the office!" Barry shook his head and took a swig of his beer. "Sometimes you have to keep your mouth shut, Chris."
"I think that was pretty ballsy of you- I admire that," Forest said, raising his beer bottle in Chris' direction.
The men from Bravo team and Alpha team (minus their Captains) had all decided to go out for a drink at the nearby pub to better get to know each other- and questions had been asked as to why Chris looked ready to throw up. And so he explained what had happened, causing mixed reactions around the table.
"So he really did nothing except remind you that he was your boss and could fire you?" Brad asked, an anxious look on his face.
Chris nodded and took a small sip of his beer, the nauseous feeling in his stomach refusing to go away. "Yeah… but he said it in this tone that just dripped of venom… and his pencil wasn't twirling…"
"His pencil wasn't twirling?" Edward asked, a brown eyebrow raised.
"Yeah, haven't you guys noticed? Like, when he interviewed you he would twirl his pen around if he was in a good mood, and if he was on high alert or didn't like an answer he'd stop twirling… no one noticed that?" he asked slowly, looking at the amused and confused expressions around him.
"Sounds like someone's been paying a lot of attention to the Captain… one would think you liked the guy a little bit too much," Edward teased as a bottle cap went flying through the air, hitting him right between the eyes.
"Oh yeah, that's right, let's make jokes about me being gay for the guy. Ha ha, real funny- Chris is just a glutton for punishment," Chris snapped out, a sour look on his face.
"Hey now… calm down, Chris," Barry said, resting a hand on the younger man's shoulder.
"Fuck, I'm sorry Edward- I'm just stressed because I think I just screwed everything up!" Chris moaned out, sitting back in his chair to stare gloomily at his barely half finished beer.
"I'm sure he hasn't fired you- I think everyone is just really tense right now so it's understandable that some words may be exchanged," Forest said, shrugging slightly. Chris could tell he'd be pretty relaxed in almost any situation- something that would come in handy in a job like this.
"You just have to learn to bite your tongue sometimes," Barry said.
"Or if he fires you, you could always just suck his cock to get the job back," Edward said, causing Chris to throw yet another bottle cap.
You just knew Chris would screw things up, didn't ya? Thanks for reading, thanks for all the awesome reviews, and thanks for the faves/watches! Next time we have more STARS fun, as well as more Chris and Wesker interation (which I know you all are eager for).