Nivannedy WIP: "The Bodyguard" Ch.6

Nivannedy WIP: "The Bodyguard" Ch.6

May 31, 2023

Leon snarled and bitched about Chris’s plan until Hunnigan agreed with it and a dizzy spell almost dropped him to the floor. Piers had to lunge to catch him, and he and Chris lowered Leon back to the couch. Hunnigan watched from Leon’s comm, looking completely unsurprised.

“It would be a good idea, Leon,” she said, voice gentler than Piers expected. “You’ll have backup if another assault occurs and assistance if there are any complications with your shoulder. You said yourself that Nivans is one of the few people you trust.”

Oh? Piers glanced at Leon to see a light flush coloring his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. It was the most color he had seen on Leon in the last twenty-four hours. Leon noticed Piers looking at him and shifted his head so his hair covered his face. Sometimes Piers wondered if that was why Leon kept his hair like that.

“I don’t need a babysitter,” Leon said. His voice was calm but Piers heard the edge to it.  “I work solo all the time. I can manage.”

“But this is an unusual situation, Leon,” Hunnigan returned. “You’re injured and you’re a key witness for the prosecution. You’re absolutely invaluable right now. No one had the information or perspective you do.”

Leon scowled, which would look more intimidating if he wasn’t slumped on the couch, pale and sweaty. He sat between Chris and Piers, adamantly pretending that they weren’t holding him up. Piers could feel him trembling and wanted to get his stubborn ass back to bed.

If everything worked out, he would have to figure out how to do that alone. Piers stared at Leon’s comm, not seeing it. He saw Leon, crumpled in the corner in the hotel room. Blood all over the carpet in his hotel room. Blood on the wall. He saw Chris in China, out of control. Snapping at him. Charging recklessly forward. Obsessed with the death of Ada Wong, no matter the cost. If he could keep Chris from self-destruction, he could do it with Leon S. Kennedy, too, dammit.

He was gearing up to fight now when Chris interjected. “You work great in a team when you’re given the opportunity to do so, Leon, and I would feel better if you had support. I know Claire and Sherry would, too. If Piers stays, it also shows BSAA’s support for this investigation.”

Even with Leon’s hair in the way, Piers could see Leon’s scowl. He opened his mouth to tell Leon to stop being such a stubborn idiot when Chris caught his eye and shook his head. Now it was Piers’s turn to scowl at him.

“For the sake of secrecy, all of this will be kept quiet for now,” Hunnigan continued like Leon wasn’t silently fuming, “but BSAA soldier Piers Nivans will act as assistance for you, Leon, and also act as our BSAA liaison.”

“But,” Leon tried. He sounded exhausted but still fighting the inevitable.

“Captain Redfield,” Hunnigan said, ignoring Leon entirely, “they’ll be keeping an eye out for you. I’ll be available if you need assistance planting a false trail.”

Chris nodded, also ignoring Leon’s sputtered protests. How often did things like this happen? “I’ll head northwest. Hopefully it’ll stall them looking eastward for a little while.”

“I haven’t agreed --”

“It sounds like a plan then,” Hunnigan said. “Nivans, while I request minimizing comm use, if you need any assistance, please contact me directly.”

She paused, looking expectantly at Piers. Leon was still protesting beside him, but as everyone else was ignoring him, Piers mentally shrugged. “Copy that.”

“What the hell --”

“I’ll contact you again when it’s safe, Agent Hunnigan,” Chris said. “In the meantime, Redfield out.”

Hunnigan nodded and then the comm went dark again. Leon stared disbelievingly at Chris. “Chris Redfield, what the fuck --”

“Leon Scott Kennedy,” Chris interrupted, looking far too pleased with himself, “it’s time to check your bandage. I also want you to take another antibiotic. You can’t afford to get sick out here.”

Piers felt forgotten in the exchange, but considering the thunderstorm building behind Leon’s eyes, he was content with that. “I have worked solo for years,” Leon growled. “I have worked solo shot, stabbed, and with a goddamn parasite in my chest. One more fucking bullet wound isn’t going to change things.”

“I know you’re tough, Leon,” Chris said. He was amazingly calm in a way Piers rarely saw. This was the Captain Piers adored. Who focused first and foremost on his people, who kept his temper under control when his people needed him. Even if it was odd to see Leon temperamental and Chris so controlled. “I know exactly how tough you are. If nothing else, do this for my sake. I’ll feel better knowing Piers is with you, especially if I can’t contact you.”

Chris was as far from China as he could be, but the frustration and exhaustion radiating off Leon reminded Piers too much of how he was in Colorado. He hid when he bled, Chris had said, and now they were boxing him in. It would have made Piers feel bad if the memory of Leon in that hotel room wasn’t so strong. The sound Leon made when they helped him out of that corner. Piers had to physically bite his tongue to keep from pointing that out.

“You make it sound like I have never gone incommunicado before,” Leon shot back. “For fuck’s sake, Chris --”

“Leon,” Chris said. He reached out and touched Leon’s good arm, and Leon quieted. Piers felt like he was intruding, but he couldn’t look away. He had been there for the mess with Arias, but now Piers wondered how much else he had missed. 

Leon looked away, staring at his lap. Pressed against his left shoulder, Piers felt the moment his muscles went slack, the moment Leon gave in. “Sleep with one eye open, Redfield,” Leon hissed anyway.

Chris smiled at him, utterly serene. “Piers also makes great pancakes.”

xoxoxox

With the plan made, things moved quickly. Chris and Piers checked the safehouse to make sure it was appropriately stocked for a long stay. It was, to an unusual degree, which led Piers to think that someone expected this safe house to be used soon. It didn’t help the bad feeling in his gut. They made plans for escapes as necessary and how to communicate with each other. For the first part, Leon glowered at them before dozing off on the couch, frowning even in his sleep. When they finished organizing and planning, Chris and Piers paused to silently watch him.

“Good luck, Piers,” Chris murmured. “You’re going to need it.”

Piers stared at Leon, at how his hair fell over one eye and his cheekbone, how his other eye looked bruised. All of this felt surreal. Twenty-four hours ago, he thought he was going to wrap up their mission and head home, maybe watch a game, maybe call his sister. This? This was not remotely on his radar. “Do you think that the BSAA is compromised then? The BSAA and DSO both?”

Chris grunted. “Leon seems to think so, and we should follow his lead on this. Better safe than sorry. Remember, if you need anything, contact Hunnigan. I think she has the best chance of hiding all communications. She can reach me if necessary.”

Piers nodded. He was a sniper. He had never had a -- he bit back a grimace -- bodyguard mission before. Hell, even if it felt like he was alone in China at times, Chris had always been with him. There had always been other members of the team close by. Everything about this mission was damned odd.

It also felt like one of the most important missions of his life.

“I’ll take care of him, Chris,” Piers promised.

Chris grinned at him and slapped him on the shoulder. “I never doubted that, Piers. Don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. I’m sure he’s going to make your life a living hell.”

Piers stared sourly at him. “Thanks.”

Chris just grinned at himself, far too pleased with the situation, and then knelt beside Leon. Leon stirred when he tapped his shoulder. Piers couldn’t hear their conversation, but Leon’s scowl was easy to make out. Chris said something to him and then landed a sloppy kiss on Leon’s forehead. Leon’s scowl grew impossibly darker and he scrubbed at his forehead like he could clean off the touch. Chris ruffling his hair when he stood up didn’t help.

“I’m out,” Chris said. He grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder. “If anything happens, don’t hesitate to contact Hunnigan. Help will come running.”

Piers nodded, automatically straightening. Leon stared at him, half-asleep and completely unimpressed. Piers tried to look at him and see agent, see a person under his protection. Instead, he saw a man who looked far too handsome considering they just pulled a bullet from his shoulder.

“Have fun, kids!” Chris chirped, and then he was gone.

Leaving Piers alone with Leon S. Kennedy.

Leaving Piers alone with the responsibility of acting as a bodyguard to one of the most feared BOW fighters on the planet. Someone Piers couldn’t remember ever being alone with before. Someone Piers…

Somehow, this was worse than China.

“I also make great mac and cheese,” Piers offered.

Leon groaned and buried his face in the couch.

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