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Leon had learned that sparring could be fun rather than just a way for people to either feel him up or kick his ass since he'd come to work at the BSAA. There were a lot of Operatives that wanted to try their hand in combat against him, which was another thing–Leon was fucking famous. What the hell?
He thought he'd be annoyed at people challenging him constantly, but it was actually fun to kick ass and watch the victories pile up on the scoreboard they had in the training room reserved specifically for sparring. It was also good practice for Leon to fight people with different heights and in different weight classes. Fighting people was very different from fighting BOWs and it didn't hurt to stay on top of his close quarters combat with actual people.
That being said, he still wasn't a huge fan of the crowd that always formed when someone openly challenged him to spar. They watched like it was an MMA fight, cheered, and placed bets on who they thought would win or lose or if it might be a tie. There had been a few people that were almost an even match for Leon, but only one had managed to actually come to a stalemate with him–Jill Valentine. She was a whirlwind of a woman, it was a shame she wasn't in the field anymore even if Leon understood why.
The only other person who'd even come close to a draw with Leon after Jill was Chris’ protegé, Piers Nivans. He was efficient and had a level head on his shoulders, a good Lieutenant for a man as impulsive as Chris when it came to combat. He was a damn good marksman and had some experience in both handling and disarming explosives, but his close quarters combat was nothing to sneeze at either. He had good control over his movements and his reflexes were top notch.
So it wasn't a surprise to Leon when Chris asked him if he would train Piers up with combat knives. It felt strange to be the teacher now, but Leon also wouldn't be teaching Piers the way Krauser had taught him. Krauser preferred the most brutal methods in everything he'd taught Leon and he'd loved to leave the rookie with bruises and cuts all over. To be fair, he'd also licked up the blood that leaked from the cuts later because Leon had unfortunately formed a very unhealthy attachment to the man for a short time and they ended up in Krauser's tent3 together or against a tree outside of camp more often than not.
But, toxic past relationships aside, Leon just didn't think Krauser's brutal and demeaning way of teaching would work for Piers anyway. No, the Lieutenant was the kind of guy who needed to learn by doing. Just explaining things to him wouldn't work, so Leon would see where he was at with his current knife skills first and teach him via sparring. He'd noticed that Piers could observe certain moves others used and copy them, adding them to his own fighting style to get an edge. That was something Leon could appreciate about him and his skill level to be able to pull that off.
Leon found himself actually looking forward to this training….
§~•~§~•~§
Thankfully, Chris made sure they had the sparring ring to themselves for this training session, so there wasn't a crowd distracting them. Leon and Piers stood across from each other in the ring and the Captain watched from the sidelines.
Piers knew Leon was good at reading others’ movements and reacting accordingly, which made it difficult to keep up with him when he was able to counter every move made against him. He hadn’t had the pleasure of seeing the man using his knife fighting skills in person yet, but he’d heard a lot about them. Leon had made the decision to use wooden training knives as stand-ins for now, which was smart in hindsight. He'd explained that it was more because he'd never trained anyone using knives and he didn't want to slice Piers up like a pizza since he was used to fighting to win and not to teach.
The Lieutenant understood that, so he wasn't too miffed about the substitution. He and Leon faced off across the ring, observing each other, reading the demeanor of the other. It was impossible to tell who would make the first move. That was down to impatience more than anything.
So of course Piers made the first move despite that meaning he'd have to put himself in Leon's space and thus at his mercy as the expert in this scenario, but what could he say? He may not have been impulsive like Chris was, but he still didn't like playing waiting games, preferring to take action.
Knives were tricky in that regard, because one had to direct the blade while also guarding their own soft spots. A blade complicated close quarters combat when you had to make sure it didn't reach anything vital. Usually, it was best to put space between yourself and the knife or find a way to get the knife away by disarming your opponent.
That being said, Leon knew how to keep his knife in his hands, had years of practice at it where keeping his knife was literally life or death. Piers couldn't decide if that was more infuriating or impressive to him. The knives clashed over and over, the wooden blades clacking against each other harshly as Leon parried expertly and Piers managed to parry on instinct and reflex rather than experience. He had minimal knife training, it was simply easier to dispatch the standard BOWs with knives because they were usually slow and clumsy.
The younger man had always admired Leon for the way he moved and how he was able to control interactions with opponents. He'd seen the few videos they had for training in the BSAA several times(way too many times) and analyzed how the man moved, but it was very different than actually being the one in the ring with him. The Lieutenant could hold his own in hand to hand sparring, but he always ended up on the mat under the man no matter how long they went. He'd be annoyed at losing to the guy so often if he didn't have so much respect for him–it was practically a right of passage for BSAA trainees to hero worship Leon S. Kennedy along with founding members of the BSAA like Chris and Jill. They were just so fucking cool….
For example, Leon could easily switch his knife to his other hand to make sure it stayed in his grasp and thus a threat to his opponent, while coming at his opponent from a different angle too. Piers was left-handed and not experienced with a knife. He could try to copy the technique, but he'd more than likely lose his weapon and be put on his ass. As long as he kept the weapon in his hand, he had a fair shot of at least holding out longer before Leon inevitably defeated him once again.
The first round was embarrassingly quick, ending with Leon holding his dull wooden blade to Piers' throat, the younger man's knife hand immobilized and his back pressed to the blonde's chest. He could feel the older man’s heartbeat against his back, hard and quick. That was gonna be featuring in the Lieutenant’s wet dreams for a while….
“You didn't lose your weapon–good.” The Agent complimented him when he stepped back and let Piers retreat to his side of the ring to go again, lightly winded. “You're already doing better than I did when I first started training with knives.” And that was going straight to the younger man's head(and his cock, which wasn’t good for him at the moment).
The second round was a little longer and Piers managed to drag the dull wood of his fake knife along Leon's arm at least once before the man once again had him immobilized. But, the younger man still had his weapon in his hand.
They kept going at it, making progress each round as the Lieutenant got comfortable with the combat style and figured out both Leon's moves and his own while Chris observed their movements in interest. The bigger man was proficient in knifework, but he was used to using his size to his advantage for it. Leon and Piers were close in height and Piers had some muscle on Leon, but they were still pretty close in weight class. The younger man's training had him moving like a soldier, while the Agent’s movements had a deadly grace to them that came from self-assurance in his skill and years of experience. He was also just more flexible than most of the operators in the BSAA were.
Leon was a slippery opponent. Anytime Piers thought he had the man in a hold, the blonde was able to escape it and launch a counter-attack. The Lieutenant wasn't used to not having both hands to grab or grapple with.
After the fifth round, Leon gave him some advice. “You have to think of the knife as an extension of your arm and use it like that.” He told the younger man. “You have one hand to grab and pull with, the other one is a deadly weapon. With knives, you go for the kill or you die. You can learn all the techniques you want, but when it comes down to it, it's survival.”
Piers nodded, trying to apply the advice to his own techniques. It was definitely for the best that they were using wooden knives. Leon had said his experience was all out in the field, which meant he went for kill shots in every fight and it was all he knew. The Sniper would've been dead or dying five times over by now.
The next round, he was able to duck under the blonde's arm, hook his free arm around the Agent’s knee to pull so he could get him on his back on the floor, and straddle him to stab down. Leon caught Piers' blade with his own and grasped his wrist with his free hand, but he was grinning, clearly proud that the Lieutenant had grasped what he meant. They struggled there for a moment before Piers used the muscle he had on Leon and pressed the blade of his knife down to press against Leon's chest.
The Agent seemed pretty happy with that and gave him an approving grin. “Now you're getting it!” Then he shoved the Lieutenant's shoulder and flipped them with the momentum so he was on top and had the younger man's wrists pinned to the floor. Piers was in Heaven and Hell at the same time. “But never assume that someone will stop after you've stabbed them. People who have never been stabbed before will probably go into shock and start freaking out immediately, but anyone who's already been stabbed at least a few times isn't gonna give in that easily. They'll do anything to win even if they die in the end.” He got up and pulled Piers up with him.
Good God, so much of this training was gonna end up in the Lieutenant’s wet dreams, it wasn't even funny. He glanced over to Chris to see if he approved of this training so far, but the man's cheeks were flushed watching them. Probably because his irresistible boyfriend was hot when he was sparring. Piers couldn't even find it in himself to be jealous of the man–aside from the fact that he already had a crush on his Captain, he would also take any opportunity he could to date or even just sleep with Leon Kennedy. Chris was a lucky bastard.
He refocused on the training and found himself getting lost in the movements. Every round, he improved his techniques and every round, Leon would give out little pieces of advice or nod approvingly or he'd give Piers that grin that made his heart skip a beat.
They kept training until eventually, it felt more like a dance, a dialogue between bodies. The wooden blades glanced off of each other, the two men would grab at each other to catch them off guard or restrain them in some way, and they'd find a way to get out of holds and pins. Piers learned not to stop even if he didn't manage to land what would be a potentially fatal hit on Leon.
It was intoxicating, keeping himself in Leon's space to try and pull one over on him, pulling the Agent to him only for the man to slip out of his grasp, having to force himself to escape Leon's grip no matter how much he enjoyed having the man's hands on him or his arms pinning him.
Finally, Piers had his arm barred across Leon's throat and plunged his wooden blade into where the man's heart would be. And for once, the blonde didn't keep fighting. They were both breathing hard, sweat beading their temples and dampening their hair at the edges, chests heaving to take in quick breaths. Leon's back was pressed to Piers' front in a mirror of the end of their first round.
Leon tossed his head back onto Piers' shoulder and laughed, a little hoarse from the intense workout they’d just done for the last hour. It was the most beautiful sound the Sniper had ever heard. He'd never actually heard Leon laugh like that, or seen him look that joyful. He’d been able to draw a few little chuckles or some quiet laughter from the man since they’d met, but nothing like this. Piers didn't want to let go of him, but he needed to, soon.
“That's what I'm talking about!” The Agent cheered, his grin wide and his eyes alight with delight. Piers let him go and Leon turned around to face him properly. “Next time, we'll do this outside somewhere–you need to learn how to use your environment to your advantage. Thursday?”
Piers nodded, a little dumbly. Leon's praise played on loop in his brain and he tried not to show how much it affected him.
The Agent went to shower and Pier stayed behind to talk with his Captain and also avoid showering with Leon while he was still reeling from that whole training session.
Chris clapped him on the shoulder with a smile. He looked so good with a smile on his face, Piers was forever cracking dry jokes in the field just to see it. “I'm proud of you–you’ve already made a lot of progress just during the first training session.” The Captain told him, the pride in his eyes like fuel to the flame that was his Lieutenant’s affection for him. This man had no idea what he did to Piers, truly.
“You picked me for a reason.” The younger man reminded his superior, just to see that smile widen in response to the comment like it always did.
“That I did.” Chris wrapped an arm around the shorter man's shoulders and led him out of the training area, not caring about the sweat that had soaked through Piers’ shirt. The man was so tactful, it was the bane of Piers' existence and also something he ate up constantly despite knowing the casual physical contact wasn't meant the way he wanted it to be. Let a guy dream.
§~•~§~•~§
To be honest, Chris hadn't just chosen Piers because he had some similarities to Chris–his marksmanship skills and his determination to get the job done and get it done right. He'd picked his Lieutenant based on the things he saw that reminded him of Leon in the younger man's training stats as well. Leon and Chris were very different in a lot of ways, and Piers was kind of the best of both worlds. He had a bright future ahead of him with those skills and his personality. And, unlike both Leon and Chris, he was also good with people and hadn't been completely traumatized and shattered by manmade horrors or the people who made them before he learned how to deal with them.
Piers was one of a kind and Chris admired him for it. He was headstrong and he could be stubborn, but he knew when to give in. That was another thing he had over Chris and Leon, who were both too stubborn for their own good. He was efficient and able to analyze the situation on a battlefield quickly enough to either make Chris’ original plan work or make his own plan and execute it flawlessly.
Those were all good qualities for a leader, but they were also just alluring to Chris as a person rather than a mentor. Jesus, what was he doing, falling for his protegé when he already had a boyfriend whom he loved very much and took so long to have in his arms? Chris already had as good of a life as he thought he could and here he was wanting more. He left Piers at the showers just as Leon was leaving them.
Shame curled in his gut at the way Piers' adoring gaze made him want to kiss the younger man and see how starry eyed and flushed it left him. He'd taken a while to not be so formal with Chris, but he still had that same look on his face whenever the Captain complimented him. And his humor was fucking broken, but that was what made it funny–their job was fucked up, and so was their humor. Leon's bad puns and stupid one liners made the older man groan even if he was fond of them, but Piers' dark, dry humor made him laugh his ass off.
“So don't get mad, but that was kinda hot.” Leon admitted casually while they walked down the hallway away from the showers.
His bluntness would kill Chris one day. The Captain spluttered, unsure how to respond. He didn't just think Piers was attractive, he enjoyed the younger man's company and had an appreciation for his prowess and skills.
“You know I can read it all on your face, right?” The blonde snickered. “I know you like him, Chris. And I get it.”
“You….do?” He’d expected Leon to be jealous, or maybe upset. It had taken them so long to be able to be together. After years of internalizing every little interaction, every mission together, every exchanged smile or meeting of their eyes across a field of bodies, they could finally let themselves love one another without something getting in the way. Leon finally felt secure enough in himself and his circumstances that he could love Chris without worrying that it would end in disaster. And Chris had waited for him that whole time, because he'd fallen hard for the man and he'd loved him no matter how low the Agent got.
“I figured out why you picked him after the first mission I went on with you guys.” Leon snorted. “I mostly just saw him as another comrade and your protegé, but this was….” His cheeks flushed pink. “You picked really well….” He admitted, a fond smile making its way across his features.
“I was drawn to him when I observed his training and saw his stats.” Chris admitted. “He's just….”
“Well rounded and incredibly competent? Adaptable and smart?” Leon offered. “And he's pretty.” He said pointedly, knowing Chris had a weakness for pretty men who could keep up with him.
The bigger man's face burst into red. “That didn't factor in when I chose him!” He huffed. “...but it is a bonus.”
Leon wrapped an arm around his boyfriend's waist and Chris settled an arm across his shoulders. “We don't have to do anything about it for now.” He decided. “We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, if we get to it.”
Chris nodded in agreement and the couple went on their way to get dinner.