Still Alive

Day 30

Tomorrow, Chris will be taking Piers home. He was nervous for the younger man but also eager to be able to repay him a little for all he had done. He wanted to help out more so Chris took this day to go to Piers home early and clean up for Piers, as well as stock his fridge with everything Chris would need to make him dinner.

Chris stopped at the first store he saw along the way and picked up two ribeye steaks, red potatoes, and all the seasonings and things he would need to make Piers a steak dinner (along with some stuff to make a small salad). With the ingredients he would need for tomorrow secured, he headed over to Piers' home. Once he arrived he let himself in using the spare key Piers had told him about. It was a nice house albeit a little small. Chris walked around taking it all in: the living room was the first room you entered followed by the kitchen to the left; through the living room was a hallway with a washer and dryer also to the left and a closet to the right. At the end of the hall were two doors. The right was a small bathroom with a shower and hamper full of clothes and to the left was Piers' bedroom. His room had a wardrobe and closet across from the door and in the middle was Piers' bed with a nice desk sitting next to the entrance. It smelled the most like him in his bedroom. Chris stood in there for a moment before quickly exiting the room to put away the food.

He walked into the kitchen greeted with the daunting task of going through all the expired stuff in Piers' kitchen. He got started right away first going through the freezer, then going through the fridge and the cupboards to get rid of everything bad. After he finished with the kitchen he threw in a load of laundry with Piers' sheets before going around the house vacuuming. Once he finished, he took a minute to really take in Piers' home. It was decorated like it was from a magazine, it was all so calculated. There were no pictures of friends or family, barely anything on his bookshelves, no plants or art, not even any lamps - just the necessary furniture and the white sterile lights that came with the house. As Chris took note of all this, he spotted one picture on Piers' desk: a picture from what felt like ages ago now. A picture of Chris and Piers from Piers' first day with the BSAA's north american branch. Chris had scouted Piers out not too long before that with the intent to train him and the other new recruits of that year. Someone from one of the offices was taking pictures for something that Chris couldn't even remember now, and Piers just happened to be next to Chris at that moment. So, they posed next to each other with Chris' hand on Piers' back. He was surprised to find himself remembering exactly how Piers felt at that time. The younger was strong with a good amount of muscle but he was nowhere near as strong as he is now. Chris felt incredibly proud in that moment, but also felt a hint of sadness. Piers really didn't have much in his life outside of work. Chris wanted nothing more than to be Piers' life outside of work in that second. He wanted to be there when Piers would wake up in the morning and be there when he would go to sleep. He wanted to be there by his side during holidays and birthdays. Chris, for the first time in his life, longed to be domestic with somebody. And not just anybody - the man who saved him over and over again. The man who gave him the world.

Chris left Piers' house with clean clothes for the young man to wear tomorrow and a mind full of thoughts and feelings he wasn't used to, and he liked it. He enjoyed this feeling of excitement and domestic bliss that spread across his whole body and soon found himself heading over to the hospital to see Piers. He didn't didn't know why, he just knew that he had to go see Piers. His heart was racing and his mind was swimming with thoughts of the younger man smiling and training from back when they first met. Chris was feeling sentimental and wanted to share the moment with the person making him feel this way.

Chris walked into Piers' familiar room and greeted him. The younger man looked surprised to see him and asked, "What brings you here? I thought I wouldn't see you till tomorrow."

"I was thinking about our first training session together, do you remember that woman from another department was there taking pictures and you and I got one together?" Chris eagerly asked.

"Of course I remember that! Why bring it up?" Piers questioned.

"I thought we should take another! Just you and me." Chris pulled out his phone and turned its camera on as he spoke.

"Really now? Even though I look like I've been in the hospital for a month." Piers half joked while covering his face to emphasize his point.

"Piers, you have never looked bad a day in your life and you know it." Chris light heartedly said back while sitting on the edge of Piers' bed and holding his phone up, ready to take a picture of them. Piers gave in with an exaggerated sigh and leaned on Chris as he smiled warmly into the phone's camera. With a soft click, the photo was taken and Chris thanked Piers before telling him he needed to go. Chris didn't plan on coming at all and if he didn't leave now he would be late for work. Chris felt a sudden rush of boldness and softly grabbed Piers hand and placed the palm to his lips before departing as quickly as he came.

Piers sat alone a little stunned wondering if the whole exchange was some sort of weird dream. His face was hot from blushing and he brought his hand to his cheek while replaying the visit over in his mind.