#safe house

“Clear,” you shout out after exiting the larger of the two bathrooms, having made sure it was completely empty, no one hiding behind the pulled shower curtain. Making sure the safety is back on, you place your handgun back in its holster before returning to the group that waits for you. Yours was the last room that needed clearing. 

“Good work,” Chris praises as you take another step closer. He’s sitting in a wider armchair, Jill resting on the armrest as they both peer at the blueprints of the house, along with some other papers. To the left of the chair sits a small striped sofa, Finn and Carlos occupying it currently, looking quite tired if you’re honest.

And finally, Piers who sits on the carpet, rifle perched at an angle while he inspects it, making sure everything is in working order, despite the mission being completed.

It had been a tiring day, well week. You had all been called to the Edonian mountains, a new B.O.W having recently been discovered by locals who had stumbled upon it. Chris had expected it to only take a day or two, but the weather had turned for the worse. The wind and the snow had made tracking the creature a real issue. In the end the team had been successful, Jill having landed the final blow to its head, killing it instantly. After that there was unfortunately more bad news. The chopper was unable to get to the extraction point. No one was happy with that update, but there was nothing you or they could do, and that’s why you were all here in this house. A safe house used by the B.S.A.A for missions like these. It made sense since Edonia was a frequent destination as of recently.

“The perimeter has been secured, and the team back at HQ has been notified of our arrival here.” Chris starts back up as he shuffles the papers, making sure they stay together in a neat stack before he hands it to Jill, her hand hovering in the air, waiting. As Chris continues, you make your way around the coffee table in the centre, taking a seat on the edge of the carpet, opposite of Piers. It isn’t a particularly nice carpet, the edges are worn due to frequent use and the fibres stick out in all directions, but you can’t really complain. “The winds have been getting stronger, but we can expect to be out of here by tomorrow afternoon, in the meantime, get comfy.”

You can hear Carlos groan in annoyance, not very happy with the situation. None of you are. The house is cold, damp and you can feel a draft coming from somewhere. In all honesty, it sucks. You could have been on your way home by now, able to have a long warm shower, have a nice meal and have a long sleep, instead you are here. The only shower you can expect will last less than three minutes, and it will not be warm. The food, well whatever rations are stocked in the miniature kitchen will have to tide you over. 

“I want no complaining,” Chris scolds pointedly at Carlos as soon as the sound leaves his chest. “I know this is less than ideal, but we’re alive and that’s important right now.”

You glance up at Carlos, seeing how Chris’ words make him think, making him realise what the other outcome of the mission could have been. He nods in response and Chris accepts the silent apology. 

“I’ll get started on the food,” Jill announces as she gets up, leaving her tactical vest behind, not needing it to simply boil some water. Chris nods as she leaves, watching her until she is out of sight. You find yourself smiling softly at the two of them, how obvious and yet oblivious the two of them act. At this point the whole B.S.A.A has bets going around on who will admit their feelings first. 

You're about to get up and leave the room, make yourself useful in some way or another. Maybe ask Jill if she needs a hand, or possibly find a stash of firewood for the empty fireplace in the corner. Chris beats you to it, already announcing what he wants you all to do next. “Finn and Carlos, you two will take the smaller room with the bunks.”

They both nod, already pulling themselves up from the sofa. Their movements sluggish and tired as they slowly make their way to the stairs, a perfect embodiment of how you feel at the moment. Maybe you can just stay on the carpet? Not moving sounds like a great idea, and the carpet can’t be that bad. You think again once you pick at the material beneath you, remembering just how thinly worn it is. Honestly, it would be worse than sleeping on a rock, and you’ve done that once.

“You and Piers will share the bigger room to the right of the stairs,” Chris resumes, pointing to the door of the room of which he is talking about before getting up himself, making his way to the kitchen. He leaves no time for you to ask where he or Jill will be spending the night. You already suspect they will sleep in shifts, like they usually do on these shorter missions. No one knows why they never let anyone else do it, but you’ve learned not to question it. 

Once Chris has left, it leaves the room empty, just you and Piers sitting on the floor, each of you in your own worlds.

“Do you want to shower first?” You ask as you look up at Piers. He looks just as tired as you feel, the darkened shadows beneath his eyes a telltale sign, as well as the yawn he lets out just a second later. 

He replies kindly, setting his rifle to the side as he uses the sofa to help himself up. “Nah, you go ahead, I’ll make sure the bed is made.” Once he stands, he reaches out his hand, waiting for you to grab it. You stare at him for a moment before placing your hand in his. Despite the both of you wearing gloves you can feel the warmth from his skin seeping into your own cold hand. He pulls you up, making sure you’re stable before he lets go, the warmth leaving you as he does. 

You smile before side stepping him, thanking him before you pass by. “Thank you.” You really mean it, you both know that whoever goes first will have the warmer water, if there is any at all that is. Passing by on his left side you make your way to the bathroom, pressing the door handle down with a creak before opening the door and stepping through.

You close the door behind yourself and make sure you lock it, twice. You’ve made that mistake before and you are not about to make it again. 

The bathroom is on the small side, a small cubicle shower, toilet and sink, it’s all you need really, but heating is something you would love. Even just standing there with your boots on you can tell the floor is freezing, the ceramic tiles not helping. The miniature window has also been left open, that’s probably where the draft was coming from. You’re quick to close it, wanting the room to heat up as much as possible before you start getting undressed.

A knock interrupts you just as you’ve shut the window. “Yes?” You ask, turning towards the door, hands already on the lock, about to click it open. 

“I have a toothbrush and some pyjamas for you here, nothing fancy I promise.” It’s Piers, his voice clear and recognisable from the other side of the thin wooden door. You open it, letting your foot hold it open as you reach for the pile of clothes, toothbrush on top. “Thank you Piers.” You thank as he nods, turning back towards the bedroom you will be sharing. You watch the door close behind him and you do the same, once again making sure it’s locked.

Placing the bundle of cotton on a small chair in the corner you decide it’s not going to get any warmer. You start by clipping off your tactical vest, carefully taking it off to make sure nothing falls out or gets damaged. It’s all custom made to fit you, so replacing it isn’t a cheap feat. The rest of your clothes come off haphazardly in layers, first your waterproofs, then your thermals, peeling the last layer off from your cold and clammy skin. 

You shiver from the cold and take a step closer to the shower, reaching out for the shower handle and turning it clockwise. The first spray hits your arm and you flinch back, the water a freezing cold temperature. While you wait for a moment in hopes of the water turning warm, you look for a towel under the sink. You take one of the larger ones and wrap it around yourself, hoping to keep a bit warmer. 

The shower runs for another moment before you decide it’s time to get in, not wanting to waste any more water. It’s not like you had hoped, the water remains the freezing cold it was when you first turned it on. You brace yourself before fully stepping in, your whole body covering itself in goosebumps as you do. Picking up the bar of soap in the corner you lather it hurriedly, just wanting to clean off as quickly as possible.

It feels like the water is getting colder by the second and you really feel bad for Piers as you turn the shower off. Your whole body is shaking as you step out, wrapping the towel around yourself again. Standing in front of the mirror you dry yourself off in rushed motions. As you do you stare at yourself in the mirror, the skin on your cheeks is red and irritated, probably from the wind. Your lips are blue as well, that’s probably from the shower.

You’re clean and dry, but really cold. Still shivering you put your pajamas on, the cotton feeling soft against your skin. The top doesn’t do much for the cold as it’s a simple camisole, the trousers however are long, pooling around your feet. You step back to your clothes, crouching down to pick them up into a pile before you stand up again, ready to leave the room. The lock clicks open as you turn the latch, padding over to the bedroom. 

Opening the door with your elbow you push it open with your back, stepping into the room. You turn and spot Piers sitting on the edge of the bed as he removes his tactical gear.

“Good shower?” He asks with a smile once he spots you, continuing to work on a stuck buckle around his waist. 

You exhale humorously as you walk to a simple shelving unit, placing your jumble of clothes and gear into it. “Freezing unfortunately.” You reply, breaking the news to him as you look around for some sort of a throw or blanket you can cover yourself with. There's one on the top shelf, your fingers catch the spiky fabric as you pull it down and wrap it around your shoulders. 

He snorts at your remark, continuing to mess with the buckle that still seems to be stuck. It’s funny to watch him struggle so much with it, so you let him for just a moment longer before deciding to help. You step closer, reaching out for the buckle. “Let me,” you mutter as your fingers pinch around the side, releasing the locking mechanism easily. You smile down at him as he watches you dumbfoundedly. 

You're about to tell him the bathroom is free for him, but a shout from the kitchen interrupts you.

“Dinner!” 

Following Jill's shout you can hear Carlos and Finn shout back, replying they will be right down. You look at Piers, waiting to see if he wants to shower now or after. 

“I’ll shower later.” He says as he stands up, passing you as he makes his way for the door. You nod, pulling up the slipping blanket around your shoulders once again. 

The dining room is small, just big enough for the six of you to squeeze in. Jill’s done the best with what she was given, it’s quite impressive actually, there is a reason she’s always in charge of the meals. Carlos does help sometimes though. None of you complain, eating away in silence, happy to have something warm in your stomachs.

“Tired?” Carlos asks from across the table, noticing Finn is practically falling asleep at the table, his head dipping down every few seconds. You poke him with your shoulder, jolting him awake. He startles, but pretends it’s nothing. “Aren’t you?” He asks Carlos back, trying to shift the focus away from him. Carlos just shrugs, making you laugh. 

The conversation continues for a while as you all finish up eating, but it slowly dies down as you all feel your eyes drooping. Chris and Piers do the dishes while the rest of you sit back in the living room. 

“Are you sure you and Chris are fine with watch?” You ask Jill as you snuggle into the corner of the sofa, tucking your legs beneath yourself. You’re currently sharing the blanket with Carlos, his head leaning on your shoulder as you both try and keep warm. 

“It’s fine, but thank you for asking.” Jill’s found her own blanket, cuddled up into the armchair Chris was sitting in when you first got in the house, her eyes closing as she rests for a moment.

Once Chris and Piers return, Carlos pushes himself up, pulling the blanket off himself before tucking it around you. You open your eyes, wondering what he is doing. “I’m heading to bed.” He announces, stretching his arms above his head, making himself seem taller than he is. You look up at him tiredly, yawning before speaking. “Have a nice sleep.”

Finn follows close by, getting up from the floor, picking up his glass of water from the table as he does. “I’m going too.”

Turning to Finn you bid him goodnight, followed by the goodnights of everyone else, watching as they both go upstairs once again. You can hear Chris chuckle as Finn trips over the last step, almost falling on top of Carlos. Shaking your head you turn to Piers, watching him as he approaches the sofa. He sits down beside you, leaving a small gap between the two of you. 

The four of you sit in silence for a while, keeping your eyes closed, simply listening to the wind howling outside. You're glad the mission ended when it did, you're not sure how things would have gone if you were still out in this weather. 

“I’m going for a shower now.” Piers declares as he pats his thighs, getting up as he does, his steps heavy as he walks to the bedroom. 

“Hey Piers?” You shout after him, making him stop in the doorway. He turns back, hand holding onto the doorway as he awaits your question. “Yeah?”

You sit up from where you were tucked in the corner, letting your legs hang freely off the side as you fold the blanket up. “Would you mind if I just quickly brushed my teeth, then the bathroom is all yours?” 

He shakes his head, a small smile tugging on his mouth as he turns back into the room, disappearing in the dark. You take it as an obvious yes, so you pad over to the bathroom, ready to be as quick as possible. You take the toothbrush from where you left it, finding some toothpaste in a drawer and squirting out a pea sized amount on the bristles. It’s one of those cheaper brushes, so the bristles are harsh on your gums. Once it foams up you spit, rinsing your mouth after. 

You’re about to leave when the door opens, Piers standing there with his own pajamas in hand. “Done?” He asks, stepping inside like you’ve already confirmed it.

“Sure am, enjoy the ice bath.” You reply, patting his shoulder as you leave the room, the door closing after you and the lock clicking just after.

The living room is still occupied by Jill and Chris, but it seems like Jill has fallen asleep, her eyes closed and her breathing deep. Chris confirms your thoughts when he places a single finger to his lips, signalling for you to be quiet. Nodding you bid him goodnight, quietly before going to the bedroom, ready to fall asleep after such a long day. 

It’s a larger room, a double bed occupying the middle of it with a few pieces of simple furniture dotted around it, the shelving unit among them. The floor is as cold as the bathroom had been, the chill seeping through your socks. Hurriedly you make your way to the bed, the neater side. It seems like Piers has already claimed the left for himself, the blanket slightly lifted from the edges. 

Upon getting into the bed you quickly realise that the state of the blanket is similar to that of the carpet. It’s thinned out from repeated use, making it a lot less functional than it would have been as new. Still it’s better than nothing.

Your head sinks into the pillow as you try to get comfortable, wrapping the blanket tighter around yourself as you try to keep warm. Thankfully the mattress is in good shape, perfectly soft so you won’t have a knot in your back when you wake. 

From the outside of the room you can hear a door opening, followed by a soft murmur of voices. You can’t make out what they are saying, but you can tell that it’s Piers and Chris speaking, their voices quiet so they don’t wake Jill. Not able to hear much you try to sleep, your eyes closing as you rest, letting your breathing slow as you’ve been taught. 

It’s just a moment later and your breathing is interrupted by footsteps approaching the door, the familiar gait telling you it’s Piers approaching. The door opens and the soft light from the living room illuminates his outline, his shivering outline. 

You know it’s mean, but you have to let out a small laugh, stifling it with your hand. 

“Not funny.” He grumbles, half seriously as he hurries over to the shelf to put his clothes away. He practically throws them on the shelf before throwing himself towards the bed, lifting the blanket from the edge before burrowing beneath it. You can feel how he shakes, the cold really getting to him. “Come closer,” you whisper, lifting the blanket slightly so he can move over.

He inches closer to the middle where your hands find his own. “Your hands are freezing.” He breathes and you can see the way it leaves his mouth, almost like a cloud of smoke. It really is colder than you had thought. You reply before blowing a warm breath of air on your intertwined hands, trying to get some heat back into them. “You aren’t the only cold one here.” Piers’s thumbs run along the back of your hand softly, a comforting gesture, then he replies with a smile. “I guess not.”

You try to sleep like that, your hands held together as you close your eyes and attempt to slow your breathing once again. Piers does the same, you can feel his grip losing strength as he starts falling asleep. You’ve always been jealous of how quickly he is able to drift off.

A shiver runs through you and it seems to jolt him awake, the sudden movement you imagine. “Sorry,” you whisper, apologising as you shift closer to him, your bare arms feeling like icicles. “You don’t happen to have an extra top?” You ask, even though you know what his answer will be. 

His reply is slow and quiet in the silence of the room, his words almost slurred together as he blinks his eyes open. You can see the way they glint in the dark, catching the light from outside. “No sorry.”

You nod, but realise he might not be able to see the movement, so you answer, that is before you are interrupted. “It’s okay I fig—“ His hand leaves your own and finds its way to your waist, a cold touch that makes you flinch, but when he pulls you flush against his chest you don’t protest. Instead you burrow closer, your head resting in the crook of his neck as your arms wrap around his own waist, pulling yourself impossibly closer. He seems to warm up as the seconds pass, the touch that was icy at first seems to melt into something you find particularly pleasant.

Piers lets out a tired laugh and you can feel how his chest moves, the vibration as he speaks, his breath tickling the hairs at the top of your head. “Take it easy, I’m not going anywhere.” His hands move from your waist to your back, your legs tangling together beneath the blanket. At this point you’ve become one person, merging together as you share the minuscule amount of warmth you both have. A good survival tactic if you do say so yourself. 

He pulls the blanket higher up, making sure that it covers the both of you properly. “Is this okay?” Piers asks softly, wanting to make sure you are comfortable.

You look up, stretching your neck so you can answer him. His eyes find your own in the dark, half closed with sleepiness. “More than, thank you Piers.” 

Instead of responding to your thanks he simply places a hand on the back of your head, tucking you back into his neck. He smells clean, with a hint of pine, possibly from the outdoors, but he always tends to smell a bit like pine you’ve realised. You like it, especially now.

“Sleep now, I’ll keep you warm.” 

You smile to yourself. “Okay, and I’ll keep you warm.”