IX. What Are You Trying to Prove?
'Let there be a record of your gorgeous face,
The turn of phrase that filled my days with joy.'
—'As You Turn To Go' by The 6ths
Kijuju, Africa
March, 2009
If one judged how good of a day was by whether or not you'd be chased with bows and arrows or axes, then you could say that Chris had been having a pretty crappy day. All day, crazed and infected locals chased him around with relentless intent. But what's better than being chased around by homicidal maniacs alone? Having a partner running right beside you the entire time.
As he dodged arrows or did his best to serpentine from the bullets, Sheva was waiting ahead for him, shooting off the infected. He would do the same for her when she was in the dangerous race, but more often than not, he was the one running and she had to save his ass. He was the only thing as white as milk so it made him an easy target amongst the sandy grounds and rusted shacks. He was thankful to her, but if he was trying to make an impression, then he wasn't doing too hot.
When he was told he was going to have a partner he tried to decline the offer. But he would find out that it wasn't an offer, rather a sort of lifeline. Whether it was the fact that he was the only American around or part of the BSAA, Sheva's presence made the people less hostile and less likely to shank him at any point. Ever since Jill's presumed demise he opposed partners. After the Spencer Incident in 2007, he felt that no one could live up to the title of his partner. Without Jill, he felt like he had lost a leg and relied on crutches to get through missions. But that didn't mean he wanted a new partner. He was willing to deal with the metaphorical amputation and do the work alone. So when Lewis King told him he would have a partner, he dreaded knowing that someone was going to try to replace his old partner.
But as the mission went on, he realized that Sheva wasn't offering a crutch but a whole new set of legs. She had no intention of replacing Jill, rather simply adapting to the role of partner.
She was attentive and one hell of a shot. She had yet to rely on him for anything more than a case of ammo. While over here Chris was getting his ass whooped and had to ask her more than once for first aid, to which she was more than happy to help. He realized when he was being dragged with a chain wrapped around his leg by an infected on a motorcycle that he was relying more on her than vice versa.
Granted, he had saved her right before when he grabbed hold of her and pulled her out of the way from the flying motorcycle—the same one that got hold of his leg with the chain. Though, he didn't feel like he could call it a save because while he was pulling her out of the way, he had unintentionally brushed his hand under her breast. So he considered it more of a grope than a save. Countless saves and rescues for Alomar, one grope for Redfield.
Now as they walked into the abandoned building side by side to formally meet who had saved them from that whole showdown with the infected motorcyclists, he noticed how Sheva had a hop in her step as they approached a tall man who no doubt was the captain of Delta.
"Man, am I glad to see you guys," Chris admitted, trying to ignore Sheva's eager attitude upon meeting the captain.
"Delta Team, Captain Stone," the tall man replied with a salute.
"Chris Redfield."
Captain Stone shook his hand and then moved his gaze to the girl beside them. "Sheva," he greeted with his accented voice.
Sheva smiled brightly and nodded happily. "Thanks Josh, I owe you one."
What the hell? Chris thought to himself as he observed the two. You owe him one? What does that mean? Good God, I hope she doesn't mean what I think she means. The assumption came out of his lips before he could stop it. "You guys know each other," he stated, looking to her.
"I trained under Josh," she had actually looked away from Captain Stone to answer his observation. "He taught me everything I know."
Double meaning, Chris thought some more.
"Sheva became the little sister of the group," Josh finished her explanation.
Yeah, that's right, Chris head was zooming with thoughts. Just a little sister. Nothing more.
Then Captain Stone went on to say a few more things about the mission and a few other things. Josh had handed Chris a hard drive that showed a familiar face in a grainy photo. Chris made sure not to get too excited over the reveal of what he really came to Africa for. The photo was terrible quality, but it gave him hope that Jill was still alive and in this area. He just had to keep going and keep with the mission.
As he and Sheva were walking out of the abandon building to continue on with the hunt for Irving, Sheva stopped him when they were alone.
"Thank you for saving me back there," she expressed with a small smile and the accustomed glint of light in her doe like eyes.
He was taken aback by her gratitude. Usually his former partners, including Jill, would say good job or wouldn't bother with replying at all. It was rare when someone thanked him for saving them, mainly because they didn't have the time, but she had. Not wanting to come across creepy and just stare at her—though, he didn't really mind doing the latter—he nodded and started walking ahead.
"Don't mention it. You've saved my ass more than I have yours." And I stole a grope from you, so really, don't mention it.
She walked up to him and stroked his arm for a brief second as a silent response. She probably didn't think anything of the gesture, but electricity went through his body and it was all coming from the spot where she had touched him.
It was going to be a long night. Not only because they still had to find Irving or that he was keeping an eye out for any signs of Jill, but for the fact that his mind would be focused on her touch and that all he could think about was for her to touch his skin again.
Los Angeles, USA
November, 2011
The tiny red target was now gone, replaced by a bullet hole. It was impossible, Chris thought to himself. No recruit had ever made the shot. Turning around to look for the crack shot, his stare settled onto one person. All the other recruits gawked at the target while one was facing away and looking up at the sound box that Barry, Rebecca and Sheva stood in. Already knowing that this showoff was Piers Nivans, Chris couldn't fight the irritated expression growing on his face as he realized that Piers was staring up at Sheva. What irritated him more was that she was gazing right back at him.
"Nivans, what was that?" Chris called out, making his way to the recruit.
Piers didn't turn right away, but Chris knew that he must have flirted with Sheva because of the blush the rose to her cheeks in the sound box. After a few seconds, Piers turned to Chris with a fading smirk.
"Sniping, Captain," he replied with all seriousness.
"No shit," Chris didn't hide his annoyance. "Don't you know better than to show off on your first day?"
"I wasn't showing off, Captain. Just went for the target."
Before Chris could retort, the entrance to the shooting range opened and stood in the doorway was Sheva. Chris's expression softened as she held the files to her chest whereas Piers' grin came back.
"Mr. Nivans, can I speak with you?" she requested politely.
Keeping his jaw from falling open, Chris watched as Piers walked casually over to her. Bone ground against bone, his teeth gritting, as Piers approached her and all Sheva could do was stare at the floor like a high school girl. Before his fists could curl, he turned from them and went to bark at the other recruits and criticize them. What a shitty day, he thought to himself.
Closing the shooting range's door, Piers looked Ms. Alomar up and down quickly. Almost immediately, he could tell she was foreign. From the way her skin glowed more than anyone else's and her friendly posture that was definitely not American. And the way she said his name. Mr. Nivans. Aw, it could make him melt. How she was staring at her feet when he approached her was adorable and he knew that the attraction was mutual. It was rare when he'd allow himself to get cocky with a woman, let alone at work. But there was something special about this woman.
"Yes, Agent Alomar?" he basically purred to her.
Her entire being heated up from the way he looked down at her with that handsome smile. Forcing back the girly giggles she always got when men flirted with her, she tucked a wavy lock of hair behind her ear. "I've never seen a recruit snipe like that."
"Well I'm happy to be your first then."
Oh goodness, the giggles were just bubbling at the surface. But she couldn't let them escape or else the snorting would start. "It makes me think that this isn't your first time through boot camp."
He shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe it's not."
"So why are you going through it again?"
"Maybe I keep failing."
Shaking her head sternly, she studied him closely. "With aim like that, I highly doubt you have failed boot camp. So why are you going through it again?"
He chuckled at her skeptic expression. "I'll tell you all about it during the interview. You're doing the interviews, aren't you?"
Nibbling at her lower lip, she nodded shyly.
Hearing the trainers call out that it was time to move onto strength training, Piers hid the disappointment from his face. He wanted to talk to Alomar longer but duty calls. Very sneakily, he leaned a little closer to her and smirked at her. "I look forward to the interview then, Agent Alomar. See you then."
A giggle escaped her lips as he turned. She clamped a hand over her mouth and forced back any more snickers. Before the door closed, she called out to him. He stopped the door from closing and looked back at her. "Call me Sheva."
The smirk that she could only imagine was permanent on his boyish face grew a bit more. "Call me Piers then."
And as the door closed, he was gone. She couldn't believe herself. Allowing a recruit to call her by her first name was inappropriate. She slapped a hand to her forehead as she heard Becca's voice calling her name.
"Sheva! Was that all you needed to do today?" Rebecca queried as she walked up to the taller brunette.
Rubbing her forehead where she slapped herself, Sheva nodded and walked with Becca to the elevators. Becca immediately started naming off places they could go to shop for furniture and places they could pick up something to eat because she was as hungry as 'a pregnant lady with twins'.
After saying that he needed to make a call and excused himself, Chris left the recruits to the three other trainers. When Piers had caught up with the group after talking with Sheva, he needed fresh air immediately. Nivans walked in with the most annoying smirk on his face that he might as well pat his own back for whatever it is he thought he accomplished. Chris couldn't get that look on Sheva's face out of his head when she called out to Piers. How she was averting her gaze to the floor shyly and modestly. That look on her face was too much to bear after remembering she did the same to him in Africa. It meant that she was attracted to Piers and Chris couldn't think of that right now. But his mind said otherwise and continued to think what was going through her head when she was talking to Nivans.
How could she act like that around someone she had just met? It took him two weeks to get a reaction from her like that. And only five minutes with Nivans. His blood boiled uncomfortably as he walked to his office door. He couldn't get the idea of her being attracted to him out of his head. It was no secret that Piers was enticed by her, but who wasn't? While in Africa, he was more than willing to wring a few guys' necks who stared at her.
Just that look on her face. The blush that stained her cheeks, her eyes hiding behind her lids, and how she fidgeted with the files was too much to take. Chris ground his teeth as he held the doorknob in his hand to his office. Why was he getting so worked up over this? There was nothing going on between him and Sheva, and there never would be. She was free to be interested in anyone she wanted to. And he had Jill.
Jill. Looking to his left, he could see her office from where he stood. Releasing the knob, he walked to her door. Sheva was her own woman who could do anything she wanted and he had Jill. When he heard her voice after knocking, he walked in to see her typing away at her computer. He also noticed how she stiffened a little when she realized who her guest was. She stood and walked to the front of her desk with her arms wrapped around her torso.
"I just wanted to see you," he confessed, not really sure if it was a true confession.
She didn't say anything, just nodded. He came here because he needed to prove something to himself. Taking a chance, he stepped to her and stood in front of her. She stared up at him with anxious eyes and he swore she was shaking a little. He looked into her dull blue eyes and felt a sadness overtake him as he took in her image. She was so much thinner now and it made him fear for her health.
He'd have to be quick before she pushed him away. Very gently and carefully, he brought his hands to the sides of her head, his palms covering her ears, and held her head still for a moment. He leaned in and closed his eyes when his lips met hers. She was tense and unresponsive to his embrace. After a few seconds he pulled away and released her from his hands.
"Are you hungry? Did you want me to get you anything for lunch?" he asked, stepping away from her and acting like the kiss never happened.
When she shook her head and looked down at her hands, he left her office, closing the door behind him. He went to his own quickly and locked it once he walked through. Leaning against the wall, he pushed the balls of his hands on his eyelids until it was almost painful.
He couldn't prove anything except for one thing: the kiss he had just shared with Jill was empty and dead.
"Never underestimate a woman's appetite," Rebecca mumbled as she brought more noodles to her mouth.
Sheva laughed at her statement. She and Becca had been out for nearly three hours looking at furniture stores. It amazed Sheva how much she had gotten in just a short time and even more so how Becca knew all the places to get affordable quality stuff. Purchasing a bedroom set and stuff for her living room and dining area, Sheva had just a few more things to shop for and her home would come together wonderfully.
"We got so much done today," Becca spoke up.
"We did, it was almost too easy," she replied with a quieter voice.
Becca looked up and studied her new friend. "Everything is going great, Sheva. Your new home will be super amazing."
Poking at her fettuccini Alfredo, Sheva nodded. "You're right. It's just all overwhelming sometimes."
"I can only imagine. Have you called your friends back home?"
"I called Josh once I landed and I just talked to him earlier today. Josh is the captain of Delta Team for the West African Branch."
Quirking a brow, Rebecca set her fork down. "Is Josh your boyfriend?"
Sheva looked up quickly and scrunched up her nose. "No, no, no. I trained under him and he taught me everything. I look up to him as if he was truly my brother. He's married with a kid on the way."
"Gotcha," Becca nodded. "So do you have a boyfriend?"
"No. I'm not very good at relationships."
Becca remembered Claire telling her how Sheva was single and that she was on a mission to match make her friend with someone. Becca tried naming off guys she knew to be single, but Claire would turn down all of them and just say that she already had someone in mind. Feeling the need to compete with Claire, even though they were good friends, Becca decided to play matchmaker, too.
"Well, it seems Piers Nivans likes you a lot," she announced with a wink and when she said his name she chirped in singsong.
"Does it seem like that? I didn't notice," Sheva tried to blow it off. She was still embarrassed how she acted around him; she didn't want to talk about him right now.
"Of course he likes you. He was practically drooling over you! You should ask him out."
"Oh no," she responded quickly while shaking her head. "He's a recruit and I'm his superior, I can't get involved."
"Well, actually, from what I've read, he's a transfer from the NYC branch. He was in pyrotechnics but when Lewis caught sight of his sniping skills, he offered him a promotion and transfer. So now he's in boot camp to become a Special Operative Agent. So technically you two have the same job and it's alright for you two to date."
Sheva couldn't comprehend how fast Becca could talk sometimes. It was like she didn't need to breathe. "How did you find all this out?"
"When you went down to the shooting range to talk to him, I looked up on the computer in Barry's office real quick at his file. Easy stuff, you know. He's 5'11, 177 pounds, and his birth date is May 4th, 1987."
"Jeez, Becca, did you find out what kind of deodorant he uses, too?" she sarcastically inquired.
The other brunette tapped a finger to her chin and shook her head. "No, but I could if you want me to."
"I was joking!" Sheva exclaimed, her cheeks heating up a bit.
Rebecca giggled and pointed her finger at the woman across from her. "You like him, don't you? Don't deny it."
"Even if I did, he's younger than I am."
"By like a year!" she countered.
Sheva pouted and took a bite of her food, ignoring Becca's laughs. She had only been in America for a little less than three days and she was already being encouraged to ask someone out. He is really cute and only a year younger than I am, Sheva thought. She quickly swatted the thoughts away. He was going to be her coworker and the last thing she needed to do right now was get into the tangled web of relationships, which is always something she avoided.
Looking to the clock on her phone, Sheva realized that the delivery for her mattress and bed set would be coming to her home within the hour. So she and Becca had the rest of their meals put into boxes and left to meet the delivery men.
As Rebecca drove, she told Sheva more about her family and how having kids was the best decision she had ever made. Sheva offered to babysit her kids if she ever needed someone and Becca was more than thrilled. While she talked more about her family, Sheva couldn't stop thinking about her short conversation with Piers. If just having a simple conversation with him was going to be like this she could only imagine how the interview would go and what mood it would leave her in.
Author's note: Rebecca's so cute, right? I just want to say quickly that I had to change a little bit of Piers' background and his relationship with Chris for the sake of the story. He will still be the serious soldier, but with Sheva he'll be a little more loose and free. I hope no one minds and if you do: whoops-a-daisy.
What are you all thinking of the flashbacks? I like them so far. I really had a lot of fun writing Chris's thoughts in this chapter's flashback. They also really come in handy instead of someone explaining the past in dialogue or thought.
Sheva Redfield: Aw, thanks, I just try to be a good person. That's great you like your dad's girlfriend! That's really important and I'm glad. No, I haven't seen After Earth. Is it any good? I've been in New Mexico since I was born, so over 18 years now. NM is pretty boring, TBH, but I imagine that's because I see this place every day. :P Sheva and Chris fighting? No thanks! Unless it's side by side, then that's okay. ;) I love Becca and of course, Piers is amazing. Hope you've gotten good rest. XOXO :)
wolfspiritqueen: Piers is one butterfinger. And I like his voice. I don't know much about the voice actor, but I like it! Thanks :)
borimortys: I can just feel the waves of jealousy coming from Chris because Piers is zeroing in on Miss Sheva! :O
JustSomeGirl17: 1. Thank you for that freebie! May I have another because I took a long time again? D: 2. You get a freebie for being lazy. No, I kid. Lazy for life! Hands down, Sheva has the best badadonk in the entire franchise of RE. It's a fact. Cool beans, approval on character introductions! Chris no like Sheva talk with other guy. That was my Stone Age language, still needs work. :P Piers? Baby daddy? My, where did you get that idea? *wink wink* ;D The sniper rifle might be the death of you, or that mutated arm at the end! D: Haha, I gotcha, real-estate lady approves of Claire/Sheva… :O Arrivederci, my sweet hamburglar!
toby7400: I would just imagine Sheva eyeing the older men. Haha, I'll try to work in someone commenting on Sheva's people-watching. I do it all the time and then people think I'm staring, which I guess I am. Anyways, onward with the story and flirting going on between Piers and Sheva.
HolleringHawk65: Piers is a hottie! And he's badass, so bonus points for him. Haha, I just couldn't not bring Piers in, right? :D
Mss. KB: I was gone for a while again, sorry! Thank you, I'm doing much better now. :) So now that Chris and Sheva think (think being the keyword) they can be friends, it is time to send Piers in to shake things up. Hope you liked his reaction! :)
Guest 1: It seems Sheva and Piers like one another, so there's going to be some romance between them!
Guest 2: Piers is a hottie and Sheva needs to admit this! :D
Sheva Giulia: Rebecca is such a cutie pie! She and Billy are perfect for one another, right? Piers is sexy, let's be honest. Maybe not Chris level, but he's pretty high. ;) Thank you, darling. Hope you are well. :)
As for the next chapter, Claire gets her hands dirty and conjures a plan. In the flashback, Chris and Sheva have a moment that both want to say something, but timing is fighting with them. I really like what happens in the next flashback. I think it's a turning point for our hero and his lady and what they feel for one another, or at least what they allow themselves to feel.
-Sarai
