Nothing to say except for that I've had a lack of motivation for writing anything recently. I wish I could upload more often. Plot is hard and want what people read to be interesting. :( Nivanfield is still my OTP and hopefully I can come up with more ideas in the future.

It was a few days later when Piers went to visit Chris at Claire's apartment, the address not easily forgotten that day.

He wore his usual scarf and a light jacket with a thick sweater underneath to accommodate for the ever frigid weather.

It was the weekend, which would normally mean thieving hours for him if he didn't have work, but all that had ceased since he'd met Chris.

As Piers stood at the entrance waiting to press the buzzer, he shuffled his boots hesitantly. A few tenants came and went, the open door an opportunity to go upstairs and escape the cold. He thanked them despite the awkward stares they gave him.

He wasn't sure why he'd come today other than it was a day off of work, and he couldn't really think of anything else he'd rather be doing.

It wasn't because he missed Chris. He wouldn't allow that to be a possibility. He could just picture the smug smile on that stubbled face. Piers almost seethed just thinking about, but then again, Chris wasn't really at all the smug type.

As he climbed the stairs, he smiled to himself at how much of an effect Chris actually had on him. He was too pleased with how much of an effect he had on Chris to care. It went both ways, when he thought about it.

As he reached the door, he took a moment to fix his hair, and then mentally scolded himself for prepping to see the married man. He'd wanted to see how things went with Jill, even if it wasn't to his benefit. The 'right thing' to do, he nodded to himself.

Piers knocked.

It was a minute before he knocked again, even louder and put his ear to the door.

There was a series of quiet shuffles before the door creaked open to reveal a very disheveled looking Chris, eyes bloodshot and lips overly chapped and dry. He smelled of booze and cheetos.

Piers tried not to wrinkle his nose or raise his eyebrows, instead opting to retain his calm demeanor, but failing.

"Chris, what the hell happened?"

Chris hiccuped and sniffled his nose and Piers couldn't help but think of a stuffed teddy bear. The resemblance was way to uncanny, but he quickly shoved the insensitive thoughts aside.

"What do you want?" he garbled, ignoring Piers' concerned expression.

"I came to find out how it went… with Jill."

What he meant but would never say was he had hoped to God they could still at least remain friends, despite meeting under awkward circumstances, and later having even more awkward interactions, despite Chris' faulty marriage. Piers had resigned and contented himself with just that; being Chris' friend. Anything beyond it would be wishful thinking, bordering delusional.

Which is why the next thing out of Chris' mouth made Piers' heart skip a beat.

"She's divorcing me."

When Piers realized he should probably shut his gaping mouth, he considered a few things. This was honestly the last thing he would have expected to happen. He couldn't help but feel somewhat guilty for having his hopes rise yet again, even at the sight of a clearly forlorn Chris.

Or feeling guilty about pushing Chris to fix things in the first place.

"What? What happened?" Not a wholly selfish prick, Piers was genuinely concerned and upset for the other man.

Chris reluctantly stepped aside to let the younger man in, eager to get back to his munchies and tissue box, Piers suspected. Though, he felt Chris didn't really come off as the crying type either.

"She said neither of us invested enough time into our relationship anyway, and it was for the best…" Chris led him to the couch before slumping down into the indent in the cushion. He scooted out of the indent to make room for Piers before he continued. "But… it's just so confusing… I saw it coming, I guess she did too. It just hurts. I didn't figure I'd be so messed up. We're devoted to our jobs, I get that. But we could have…"

Chris shook his head as he held it in his palms.

"Chris… I'm sorry. I thought..." He lifted a hand to lay it awkwardly on Chris' shoulder. He didn't want Chris to carry the burden of the pain alone. "Maybe I shouldn't have said anything… maybe this wouldn't have happened."

To Piers' surprise, Chris rested his head in one palm, and took the hand on his shoulder into his own. He held it firmly before speaking. "It's not your fault. I know it's not what happened, but it still feels like I got rejected… maybe it's because we've known each other for so long. I… I just wish it didn't hurt so much."

Piers didn't want to make a bad situation worse, or stir up any confusing emotions he was pretty sure Chris may have had, but he felt he had to do something.

He pulled his hand from Chris' and put a reassuring arm around Chris' back, and let his other hand rest in Chris'.

"I know it's bad…" Piers whispered. "Like I told you before, I've been there. Maybe not exactly, but I know how you feel. I know it'll get better. After all, I met you, didn't I? That's proof enough." When Chris looked up from his palm, Piers gave him a small smile.

"Thanks." Chris returned the smile, but then his eyes clouded as if he were mulling something over in his head. He opened his mouth to speak, but instead began to lean over to the other man.

Piers leaned his head back from the advance just enough to see the dejected look on Chris' face. As contradictory as it sounded, this was not what he wanted to happen, despite how much he actually wanted it to.

"What are you doing?" he asked with enough innocence that would make anyone other than Chris scoff in skepticism.

Chris' settled for lightly nuzzling into the nape of Piers' neck, refusing to meet his gaze. "Piers, please…?"

Piers, momentarily at a loss for words, gulped as he felt his breath quicken at the feel of the stubble on Chris' face tickling at his skin. "Chris…" he whispered, so ready to just give in.

Chris maneuvered his body on the couch for better access to Piers' neck, gently brushing his lips along the sensitive skin, running them up his jaw, determined to take in those full lips…

"…Chris, stop." Piers unenthusiastically eased him off. While he was ecstatic to be right about what Chris might feel for him, he knew this was the wrong way to start anything. Chris was horribly broken up over a wife he hadn't even officially divorced yet, and here he was practically ready to offer his damn body to the man. This wasn't how it would go, however much he wanted Chris. "We can't. Not like this."

"Not like what?" Chris said, irritation becoming evident in his tone. "Why else would you be here?"

"You're upset about Jill. You want whatever comfort you can get right now… I understand that, but you have to sort this out first. Please…you need to think things through." It was less a suggestion and more pleading to deny himself his own selfish desires at that moment. If he didn't, Piers wasn't sure he'd be able to control himself if Chris did anything else. "You helped me when I was in a slump. Just let me help you."

Chris knew, even in his lust-dazed, alcohol addled state, that Piers was right. The kid had guts to tell him straight. He could respect that. Hell, the kid had guts to try and pickpocket him in the first place. That didn't make this situation any less painful or tolerable. But maybe the memory of Piers' skin under his lips for the briefest of moments would make it bearable. For now.

The two sat there in stifled silence, rejection not quite the cause of it, and yet the possibilities that had revealed themselves making both men anxious and eager.

"Do you need anything?" Piers asked with uncharacteristic, though understandable timidness in his voice.

"No."

The response was stubborn, curt and final. Chris rolled over on his shoulder into a half seated, half laid back position on the other arm of the couch. It made him look as if he were a sullen child. Piers quirked a hidden smile, despite himself and the whole situation.

Not being the total douche that he had almost made himself out to be, Chris offered some gratitude. "Thanks for coming to see me, Piers… you'd be one of few. I never meant for you to get caught up in my drama. I appreciate it."

"It's fine. We're…" Piers stopped himself before he put another compromising and confusing label on their relationship. "…We're guys, right? If there's anything we can't do right, it's marriage." It was a lame save which earned him a raised eyebrow from over an impressive shoulder.

"I'm sure some guys manage, Piers. Especially when it's worth it…" Chris frowned and slumped again on the sofa's arm. He had that faraway, reminiscing look on his face again, like when he had described Jill from the picture. Clearly, Piers wasn't helping any more than anything else that came tumbling from his mouth. He tried to think of something productive, something that would at least help Chris, or take his mind off of things. Something not involving anything that might have happened on the couch if Piers had let that situation play out.

"Chris," Piers gently nudged him out of his thoughts with his knee. "Why don't we do something tomorrow? Like, go somewhere."

"Depends," Chris mumbled.

"On?"

"If we can go to the bar after."

"Ah, not sure if that's the best idea," Piers chuckled nervously for his and Chris' sake. "But we can go out to eat or something afterwards. So…" Piers tapped his chin in thought. "How about-"

"Surprise me. Call me or something." Chris slumped back down onto the couch. He pulled a sheet over himself, with a dismissive puff of air escaping out from underneath.

Piers wasn't sure what to do but leave the other man alone for now. At least Chris had agreed. He felt it might be something like pulling teeth for that to happen.

Piers spent the majority of the rest of the day replaying what had happened at Chris' place, as well as planning what to wear for their outing. The tricky part was deciding where to go and what to do first.

Piers was resourceful and practical, and whenever he was down in the dumps, he would exercise. Jogging, or something along those lines.

He had an idea that would be much more fun to watch Chris attempt, something that was a little more traditional to do in the winter than the typical 'go to the movies' routine.

Once again, Piers found himself smiling and chuckling just thinking about it.

I can at least say that I have a cute, fluff-based idea for the next chapter. lol Don't get hopes up for fast uploads though. :( Reviews are always read and appreciated!