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It took Chris another two weeks to feel more stable with his legs and stamina. He didn't tire as easily now, or at least, not physically, but it had taken him quite some time to get there. It was now roughly two months since he had overdosed, only a few weeks since he was awoken from his more comatose state. He had been lucky, incredibly so. Alongside his PT, the hospital had insisted on putting him through their drug rehab program, which had meant daily therapy and a whole lot more introspection than Chris was comfortable with, but he had to do it if he wanted to get back to the squad as fast as he could. He hadn't talked much, at first, in his sessions. But now he was slowly opening up about his previous addiction, the one that got him in this mess in the first place, and everything attached to it. If Chris was tired, these days, it was more emotionally than physically. He was glad, however, when his Captain came. This time around, it was to get him out of his room.
"Come on, I still owe you that walk," Sergei Vladimir grinned as he handed Chris a jacket.
Chris smiled before following his Captain, trailing besides him at a moderate pace, helped by his crutches. Vladimir took them both out to a nearby park. It had been weeks since Chris had been out and about and he relished in the good weather and open air. Chris hadn't thought that he'd miss something as mundane as feeling the sun on his skin, but here he was, grinning towards the sky as he took in the beautiful weather. Summer was fast approaching and Chris could feel it in the air.
"A treat?" Vladimir asked Chris after a bit of time.
Chris snapped back to attention, turning his head towards the Captain and noticing the nearby ice cream stand the older man was referencing. Chris offered the Captain a wide smile, nodding enthusiastically. It didn’t take too long, even with Chris’ snail pace, for the two men to reach the small stand, order and then settle with their respective cones on a secluded bench, sitting under a tree. Chris had carefully put his crutches aside, thankful for the respite.
"I never expected you to like banana flavored ice cream," Vladimir commented with a soft smirk as he observed the younger man.
Chris leaned back on the bench, chuckling. "And you're a classic kind of man, aren't you? Chris replied, eyeing Vladimir's plain vanilla cone and giving the other man an eyebrow raise.
"Guilty," Vladimir replied with a grin before glancing around the park.
Vladimir shifted slightly on the bench, before returning his attention towards Chris. "How has your progress been?" Vladimir asked the younger man as they ate their respective cones.
"It's going well, I think? From what the doctors have said, at least,” Chris shrugged. “Besides, you know how my PT'S going, you’re always there," Chris grinned teasingly. Chris stayed silent for a small moment before leaning slightly towards Vladimir. "You know you don't always have to be there," Chris muttered softly, tilting his head to look at the other man.
Vladimir smiled. "I know, but I want to. No one can train you like I can," he replied simply before eating a bit of his ice cream.
"You always give us a run for our money," Chris teased his Captain. "It's very much appreciated, though. Your... your support means a lot. In this, especially," Chris says a bit more quietly, emotion piercing through. “You could’ve just decided you didn’t want anything to do with me but you didn’t, I…” Chris got choked up.
Vladimir gently patted Chris’ shoulder, his hand lingering as it slid down Chris’ back before retreating. "I'm glad I can be of help for you," Vladimir replied.
"It means a lot…" Chris was silent for a moment, taking a few more licks of ice cream before speaking up. "They've, uh, started me on therapy around the time I started PT and it's been... interesting?" Chris struggled to find his words. "But... hard. It's… hard to trust people, you know?" He continued awkwardly.
Vladimir nodded along to Chris’ explanation. "I understand," he said gently before taking his free hand. "I've always got your back, Christopher," he squeezed Chris’ hand.
Chris blushed slightly as Vladimir took his hand. "Thanks, it means a lot, Captain," he whispered, glancing on the side shyly as he squeezed the hand back.
Vladimir simply offered him a soft smile, squeezing his hand one last time before letting go. "You should finish that before it melts," Vladimir pointed towards Chris’ cone.
Chris cursed slightly, hurrying to lick the melting ice cream before it could reach his wrist. A few drops of the sticky substance still managed to hit his fingers, which Chris messily licked clean before they could reach further down.
Vladimir chuckled, his thumb coming to gently swipe away a bit of the ice cream from the corner of Chris’ mouth. Chris glanced at Vladimir with wide eyes, stunned by the gesture. He watched as his Captain licked his thumb, making a small hum.
"Maybe I should get banana next time too,” Vladimir said with a sly grin.
Chris’ blush deepened. "It's, uh, it's good," Chris said weakly.
Vladimir chuckled before taking some more bites out of his own cone, his eating methodical and practical. Vladimir looked at the flustered pointman with a mix of fondness and curiosity as he ate. Chris followed his Captain's suit, the two of them finishing their cones in comfortable silence.
Once they were done, Vladimir eyed Chris with curiosity. "Burton is throwing a grill party soon – do you want to come?" he asked softly.
Chris immediately perked up. "I'd love to! If the doctors can let me out for a night," Chris smiled softly.
Vladimir nodded. “I‘ll talk with them okay?“ he offered with a grin before getting up, offering a hand to Chris.
Chris took the hand with a small smile. "I'd appreciate that. It's so good to be outside for once," Chris let his head fall back as he was standing, glancing up at the sky and the trees around wistfully.
"You look beautiful like that... enjoying nature," Vladimir said softly as he was eyeing Chris.
"Uh, thanks?" Chris blushed again, his eyes snapping towards Vladimir, who was standing nearby.
Vladimir chuckles softly, offering Chris his crutches. "I know a spot you might enjoy," he hummed softly.
Chris took the crutches and gave the Captain a smile. "Lead the way."
Vladimir smiled then they started walking. Chris enjoyed the landscape and the breeze around – the temperature was comfortable, not too hot nor too cold. It was a perfect days to take a stroll in the park and Chris’ mood was already much better. Vladimir took them both to a secluded clearing that was surrounded by flowers. Chris looked around in wonder. He put his crutches at his sides, examining the different varieties of flowers. His eyes darted around as he took everything in – all the colours, the way the light fell through the leaves of the trees, the way the grass and stems swayed under a light breeze. Chris felt at peace, safe in a way he hadn't felt in a long, long time.
“I knew you‘d like it here,” Vladimir said from beside Chris, a soft smile on his face.
Chris' breath hitched as his attention and gaze were redirected towards Vladimir's face. The wonder stayed on Chris' face as he observed the other man, letting his eyes roam more closely on the other man's face. Chris’ eyes took in the fondness and peace on Vladimir’s face, an expression he didn’t think he had seen before on the other man’s face – Vladimir was always so stern at work, but he had seemed softer during Chris’ PT.
"Captain?" Chris whispered eventually.
"Yes, Redfield?" Vladimir replied with a smile, tilting his head a bit as he lifted his hand, his thumb gently caressing the brunet's cheek.
"What are we doing?" Chris whispered, a slight confusion tinting his words. His expression, however, stayed open, soft.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you keep looking at me during PT, or even just right now…“ Vladimir muttered quietly, eyes roaming over Chris’ face gently.
"I..." Chris blushed deeply, gulping and licking his lips nervously.
Vladimir took a step closer, his other hand coming to cradle Chris’ face gently. Chris couldn’t help but look up towards Vladimir’s face, his eyes flitting around.
"You?" Vladimir pushed with a soft grin.
"I, could I tell you something first?" Chris frowned slightly, his expression dimming as worry seeped into his demeanor.
Vladimir nodded, pulling back slightly to leave Chris some space. “Of course, what is it?“ he replied softly, pulling his hands back as well.
Chris chased after Vladimir’s hands, keeping them entangled as he brought them back towards his face. "I vaguely told you about this... man that I had met, a few months back, when I came to your office about the B&E in my apartment?” Chris started hesitantly. “I… he's..." Chris let his eyes stray aside as he struggled with his words.
Vladimir gently squeezed Chris’ hands and face softly. “What is with him?“ he muttered softly.
"I guess you could say that I got into all this mess cause of him?" Chris winced at his own words. "I... I've been working it out in therapy but… I was blind to the risks, from the drugs we took, because I just… I wanted his approval so so badly. I'm..." Chris shook his head, letting out a sad laugh. "I'm only realising now that I changed myself in the hopes I, no he , could stay and when shit hit the fan, well he... didn't," Chris' voice got wobbly as he tried to reign in tears. “He didn’t stay,” Chris said, voice choked up by emotion.
Vladimir gently pulled Chris into a hug. "I won't ever force you to change into something you're not," he muttered gently against Chris’ hair, sliding his hands against Chris’ back.
"I just feel like such a fool," Chris chuckled wetly into Vladimirs shoulder as a few tears slid down his cheeks. Chris slowly wrapped his own arms around Vladimirs waist, clinging to the back of his shirt.
"But you're not a fool, Chris, far from it,” Vladimir countered. “I hope you can relearn to be sure in yourself some day – maybe even with my help," he continued softly as he tilted Chris' chin up gently.
Tears were trailing softly on Chris' cheeks as he gazed into Vladimir’s cool eyes, lingering on the silverish blue that had become so comforting in the past few weeks. "I don't know if I feel quite ready for… for a relationship like that again. I feel like I crashed and burned with this one," Chris admitted softly, a slight furrow in his brow.
Vladimir nodded gently as he swiped a few tears from Chris’ cheek. "I understand. I can wait, Chris," he whispered softly. "We'll do it at your pace," Vladimir added as his hand slid towards his back, settling around Chris.
Chris hesitated for a moment before raising his hands to gently cup Vladimirs face, bringing their foreheads together. "Thank you," he breathed out, closing his eyes and basking in the other man's comforting presence.
"Of course," Vladimir whispered softly, just keeping Chris close.
Chris snaked his hands and arms down, putting around Vladimir's neck and bringing the two of them closer as he just breathed in the other man's scent – familiar, safe – and found comfort in their embrace.
"I'll protect you, Chris," Vladimir muttered gently against his ear as he kept Chris close, one hand gently running through the other's hair.
"And I, you, Captain," Chris muttered back, his voice muffled on Vladimir’s shoulders as he’s hiding his face in the crook of the other man’s neck.
Vladimir smiled, tilting his head to brush his nose against the side of Chris’ head.. "Not now though – you are still sick and need to get fit again. Then you can protect me," Vladimir teased Chris with a small chuckle.
"Will do, Captain," Chris chuckled.
The two of them stayed together like this, carefully tucked and wrapped around eachother, for a moment before Vladimir spoke up. "SHould we head back? It's getting quite late."
"Yeah, yeah I guess we should head back," Chris sighed before unentangling himself from Vladimir. Chris gave Vladimir a soft smile before brushing the tear tracks away from his cheeks.
Vladimir gave him a smile, gently wiping away the tears on the other side. "Let's go before I can't convince the doctors to let you out for that barbecue at Barry's," Vladimir chuckled.
“Aye, let’s go,” Chris smiled.
Chris took back his crutches before following Vladimir back to the hospital, the seed of their closer relationship planted.