Little Nivansfield 01

"Captain?" Piers looked up at him, frowning at the unexpected visit to his room. He seemed to be his usual self, leaning against the side of the door frame like there was nothing to worry about. And Chris might have believed it if it weren't for the fact that the young sniper's trigger finger kept twitching as if ready to take down a target.

"Is there something you need to tell me?" Chris lifted his brow staring at the younger male. Why was here in front of his A.T.L.'s door giving his second a scrutinizing look? Simple. He'd received enough complaints from others in the dorm saying that they could hear what sounded like barking coming from the room. As the captain it was his responsibility to investigate the cause of the noise which meant having to confront the sniper about the situation whether he wanted to or not.

"Not that I'm aware of." Piers stood up straight letting the door swing open wider as he turned around starting to walk back into the room with a twist to his walk that shouldn't have been possible on a male. "But I'm sure you're here for a reason." Chris tried not to let his eyes follow the swaying hips, his hand moving up to rub behind his head as he followed the other inside closing the door behind him.

"I've been getting complaints that there's a lot of barking coming from this room," Chris said letting his eyes wonder around the room looking for anything that would give away the current situation. Nothing. He had a feeling of that. Piers kept his room spotless. There were no indications that a dog was being kept there at all. It didn't even smell like there was a pet within the room. "And seeing how pets aren't allowed in the dorms, it's my responsibility to make sure you're not breaking any rules." Chocolate colored eyes landed on the hazel ones staring at him from across the room as he finished speaking.

Piers didn't look amused, his lips pulling down into a frown again as he leaned back against the wall by the window, bending one leg up to rest his foot on the wall behind him while his arms folded over his chest looking agitated. Chris couldn't blame him. To have his room searched just because people were talking seemed wrong. Piers wasn't a rule breaker. He always followed orders, always listened to what Chris told him even if sometimes there was the need to tell Chris what he really thought. If a plan sounded dangerous, Piers wasn't past letting the captain know. But he'd still follow orders, even if Chris told him to walk the fine line of a rope across an erupting volcano.

"You don't mind if I look around, right?" The hazel eyes were still staring at him, jaw tightening before the gaze was broken as Piers tilted his head down looking towards the ground, shrugging his shoulders.

"Not at all, Captain," he said with a neutral tone to his voice. Well he wasn't going to get many answers out of him. Chris took his time walking around, letting his eyes catch everything, record everything. It wasn't like it was his first time in Piers's room. He found he liked chat with the younger man during their off time, even if said male seemed to remain emotionally detached through the whole conversation. At least, that's how Chris saw it before he'd started noticing how much the sniper's eyes always seemed to be on him. He wasn't as stoic as he tried to make himself out to be, especially when he went into a tangent when talking about the latest sniper rifle coming out soon that seemed to be about the only thing to get a rise out of the kid.

No, he wasn't detached. Because Chris had read plenty of emotions in those hazel eyes even if he couldn't fully understand what they all meant. He was still learning a lot about his young partner, things that he was sure would take a lifetime to figure out.

Chris boots hit heavily on the marble floor, a floor so clean he could see his reflection in it. He hated walking on it, dirtying up a floor that Piers apparently took a lot of pride in cleaning. Piers never seemed to mind him walking around on it, not that he'd ever say anything against his captain.

Chris glanced back at Piers seeing the other watching him still before he stopped beside the bed. Piers always made his bed perfectly leaving not a single winkle in the sheets when he tucked them under the mattress. You'd almost think it were the mattress itself if you weren't looking carefully. Chris kneeled down looking under the bed for evidence. Nothing. No dogs, no clothes or dirty magazines, not even a stretch of dust. It was clear from one side to the other.

When did Piers even have time to clean everything like this? Piers stayed out in the field unless it was night time and even then he'd sometimes got out there for night time practice. He spent most times training his body and keeping his sniping skills sharp like he really needed too. The only time he took breaks were for food and water unless Chris forced him to take longer. Did he spend all night cleaning up then? Well not that he probably ever had a mess here to begin with.

Piers had stopped looking at him now. It gave Chris the opportunity to stare at him without looking like some perverted stalker. The kid was young enough to be his kid brother. He was attractive, enough so to draw attention from the females in the other teams. He had lips that women would die for just to have as well as a butt that Chris always found himself staring at when he had the chance. Yet, Chris couldn't really place where Piers's sexuality lay. He didn't seem to be infatuated with anyone, man or woman. Instead, he was always seen out in the field with his trusted sniper rifle that was actually lying against the wall by the bed like he used it to snuggle with at night. That put an interesting image in Chris's head.

As for Chris, he knew he felt some attraction towards the younger male. It was the first time he'd felt a pull like this towards a guy, but it wasn't something that would make him run away. Actually, besides it being off limits for him to go after someone in his unit with less rank, the fact that he was really 14 years older than the other was really what stopped him. If the kid was into men, why would he want to date an older guy like Chris? That's the thought that always stopped him on pursuing this curious desire further.

"Captain?" Chris focused again hearing the musical voice in his ear and looked up to find Piers staring at him. His eyes looked like they read with worry but then to Chris it looked more like curiosity. Well he had just been staring at the kid for a good while now.

"Nothing," Chris said, boots thundering on the floor as he made his rounds. There were only two more places to look, the closet which he was almost certain would look just as neat and clean as everything else in the room, and the bathroom that Piers was just lucky enough to have in his room. It helped cut down the long line that usually stood outside the shower room in the mornings and at night when everyone wanted to bathe and perform their ritual hygiene demands. And honestly, Chris felt glad for it. Before Piers had been given his own room after upgrading in rank, Chris had gotten a few glimpses of Piers naked. And in all honestly, while still looking very manly, Piers still had some of the boyish appeal to him, such as the soft looking skin of his body or the fact that he'd actually turn a healthy pinkish color after showering in the hot water.

It'd left Chris with plenty to play with as he'd secretly watch the boy drying off. But if he was watching, who else out there was getting an eyeful of this forbidden candy? And the way Piers would sometimes glance over at Chris like he knew he was staring and display this small, cocky smirk. Did he know what he was doing to his captain's mind with that body of his?

Clearing his throat, Chris turned his eyes away from the cocky little smirk appearing on Piers's lips as he started over to the closet. Just as he expected, it was clean. Boots lined the bottom of the closet all shine and perfection. There was one pair of casual shoes there that Chris had only seen Piers wear a few times. Most of the clothes hanging up were protocol uniform material, all pressed perfectly and set up looking like duplicates to the uniform the male was wearing right now.

Moving on he checked the restroom next. And just like he thought, clean here as well. Nothing in the shower, nothing hiding behind the toilet. He didn't even bother to check the cabinet under the sink housing all of the toiletries he didn't want to go through. They were personal even if he didn't mind the idea of seeing what kind of body wash Piers used.

When he came back out of the bathroom, Piers was sitting on his bed staring in his direction steadily. It made the captain grunt out and tilt his head down to nervously rub at the back of his neck. Piers sure had been staring at him a lot this time around. But he gave no indications of housing any kinds of pets. His eyes didn't flicker to any hidden hiding spots or look to show any interest at all in the whole situation, just annoyance at having to go through it.

"Well…maybe you're playing videos on the computer too loud or something," Chris said looking up at him. Because the kid didn't even own a TV in his room. Chris was actually surprised he even had a computer at all and could only imagine him looking up things that were work related if he did use it. "I haven't found anything here."

"Then, no offense captain, but I'd like to get a shower and rest up a while." He said it as he was getting up and walking in Chris's direction, the smirk coming to his lips the closer he got to his captain. And damn if Chris couldn't help letting his eyes wonder down to those hips before he swallowed and looked away quickly, trying to remove the image of a naked Piers showering and doing god knows what else in there.

"Y…Yeah…" Chris turned away from him heading for the door. "I'll let myself out then." The captain walked to the door resting his hand on the doorknob preparing to turn it when a sound stopped him. It wasn't a loud sound but it didn't go unmissed as it was something you rarely heard in the dorms, especially a dorm that was spotless like this one. A whimper. Chris looked back catching the surprise on Piers's face before it quickly converted to a look of neutrality.

"Is something wrong, Captain?" His face was more guarded now and he continued to stare at Chris like he was willing him to leave. But he knew he'd heard it…he had to look into it now. Turning on his heels he let his eyes travelling around before they landed on the computer desk hearing another whimpering sound from there. He missed the look of widening hazel eyes as he started moving quickly in the direction of the desk. "C-Captain?" Piers was getting nervous now and it was the dead giveaway that he was right on the mark. "Captain, wait!"

Chris didn't stop to listen to him as he reached down and pulled the draw open. The first thing he saw was the small puppy laying there staring up at him with big brown eyes and wiggling ears that seemed to grow more alert at the sight of the older man staring down at him. He was sitting on top of a small pillow obvious bought just for him along with a small blanket. Chris took notice of the bandaging wrapped around one paw that he seemed to be taking care not to lean on.

With the amount of fur he had on him he looked like a little brown bear that was wagging a happy tail just from seeing him. As Chris reached down and petted his head he let his eyes slide over to Piers who was doing everything not to look at him. And dare Chris say the beaten look actually looked good on him. The lips looked like they were poking out more as if he were pouting.

"Piers…what is this?"

"…A…" Piers sighed looking over at him finally admitting to his defeat as he looked up at Chris with dejected eyes. "A puppy…sir."

"…What is a puppy doing in the dorms, Piers? You know pets aren't allowed here." Even though Chris was finding himself taking a liking to the little guy rubbing his belly and watching him roll over and squirm happily in bliss. The puppy was just slightly bigger than his hand and looked like he could just barely walk. He might have been about four weeks old at most.

"I found him…a week ago while I was training." Piers clenched his jaw looking frustrated. "Sir, he was just out there by himself! And he was injured! I couldn't let-"

"You know the rules, Piers," Chris said wishing he didn't sound so cold when he said it. It wasn't like Piers did it deliberately. He was just helping the little guy. And besides, with the little tuff of hair sticking up in the front, he looked a little bit like his temporary owner. "We can't have pets inside the dorms."

"I know sir, but…"

"Piers." The sniper flinched slightly going quiet and biting his lips. Sighing, Chris picked the pup up easily able to hold him in one hand. The pup didn't make much of a fuss beside to yelp slightly and give a low whimper, his nose sniffling against Chris's thumb. "We'll discuss this later. You know I can't let this go unpunished." When Piers didn't say anything in return and continued to stare down at the ground, Chris couldn't help feeling like he'd just kicked the guy in the chest. Had Piers ever even had a puppy before? Sure, Chris had had one when he'd been a child. He'd gotten really attached to it too so it killed him when the poor thing died. But he did live to old age at least. "I'll see you in the morning, Piers."

"…He looks like you."

"…Hm?" Chris blinked and backtracked, stopping midstride as he turned around and looked at Piers questioningly. "What was that?"

"I said…" Piers looked up at him trying to look angry even though his cheeks were glowing a healthy red. "I said he looks like you…sir. That's why…that's why I wanted to keep him." Chris stared at him, the little puppy fidgeting in his grip as his nose started sniffling in Piers's direction before he started whining more.

"Interesting." Chris found his feet moving closer to where the younger male was only stopping when they were face to face with each other. Piers avoided looking at him with his eyes instead finding other things and articles of clothing to focus his eyes on. "Is there a reason you want to keep something that looks like me?" Why was he getting his hopes up? Was it because of how Piers's cheeks looked redder or how he seemed determined not to make eye contact with him?

"N…No sir." Piers clenched his jaws tight keeping his eyes looking away even when Chris leaned in closer invading personal space, intimidating him with his status, the power he had over him, wanting to do more to him. Instead he backed off giving Piers his space back and taking note of how heavily he breathed out as if he'd been holding his breath.

"Alright then. I'll be taking little Nivansfield here back to my home for a while."

"Yes sir." Then it seemed to dawn on him what Chris said because he turned his wide eyes quickly to look at him. "N-Nivansfield, sir?"

"Why not?" Chris said shrugging his shoulders like he didn't care. "To me he looks more like you. Yet, you say he looks like me." Chris couldn't help grinning more as he teased the younger male. "Must be our secret love child."

"C-Captain!"

"I'll keep him at my place for now," Chris said turning away from the surprised look and the embarrassment flashing on Piers's face. "Until I figure out what to do with him, you're free to come visit him there." Chris glanced back at Piers seeing what his reaction was. It seemed to be enough because the small smile that appeared on that face couldn't have been happier.

"Yes sir!" Piers saluted him but it looked weird with that happy smile on his face. "I'll come visit him every day." Chris stumbled on those words looking back at him pretty sure he didn't hide the surprise on his face.

"Every day?"

Piers nodded his head before his frowned. "Unless…if it messes on your time off, Captain, I'll wait until you tell me I can come over."

"No, it's fine," Chris amended quickly, not minding the idea of the younger male coming to his home. "Come as much as you want." He shook his head quickly at how the words sounded in his own ears. From the way Piers was looking, he'd taken it the wrong way as well. "I mean come over as much as you like." What ever happened to all the control Chris had not long ago? He felt like it'd just fluttered out the window just from the sight of the sniper's smile. Lil Nivansfield seemed happy about the whole thing giving a small bark as he wagged his tail.

"I'll come!" Piers said excitedly, not even paying attention to what his words did to Chris. "I'll come visit you every day." Chris smiled at the excitement thinking that the words were meant for him. But when Piers leaned down smiling at the puppy and tapping their noses against each other, he knew his assumption was wrong. Well at least he'd get to see him anyway.

TBC…