Calling the family - Twitch/Caveira
"Are you out of your mind?" Caveira crossed her arms over her chest, looking down at Twitch with her best scowl.
"Please Taina! It will cost you nothing, all you have to do is stay at my side for five minutes and pretend to like me. That's it!"
"Because you told your mother you had a girlfriend, and now you need someone to save your ass from that lie."
"She wouldn't stop trying to set my up with her friends' sons. You have no idea how annoying she can be, always talking about finding a husband and starting a family."
Caveira could empathise with Twitch's plight. She could, really. She just didn't know why Twitch asked her of all people on the base. "I just don't see why I should help you."
If Twitch was disappointed or frustrated by her answer, she didn't show it. Instead, she grinned like she had been expecting that reaction from Caveira. "I'll owe you a big time favour. Anything you want, no questions asked."
The words hit Caveira like a slap, shame flooding her. It was almost exactly what she said to Twitch after she and Valkyrie helped her with her brother's mess in Bolivia. Twitch told her there was no need for that, and never cashed in that promised favour. Except maybe that was her way of reminding Caveira of it? No, the French woman was way more direct than that. Still, never let it be said Caveira didn't repay favours.
"No need for that," she said harshly. "Just this once, then we're even."
Twitch beamed at her like she had won the lottery, her whole face lighting up in joy. "Thank you Taina!"
It was fine, Caveira could do this. It wouldn't be difficult, she just had to stand next to Twitch, maybe put an arm around her. Pretending to like Twitch wasn't such a chore, the woman was so damn likeable that there was no need for faking, really. If this meant so much to her, Caveira would do it.
Twitch's room was clean and orderly, except for the armfuls of spare pieces and wires and circuits on the bed. Clearly she had scooped everything out of the desk and dumped it on the first flat surface she saw. A sleek and expensive looking laptop was on the otherwise empty desk. Twitch sat in front of it and pointed at the chair next to her for Caveira to seat. It was fine, this would be quick, and she only had to sit there. Caveira watched while Twitch started the video call, centering the image in a way that only showed her.
The woman who appeared on the screen looked so much like Twitch, only thinner and older. Caveira couldn't understand what they were saying, her grasp of French was extremely basic and composed mostly of curses she'd heard the GIGN say at some point during these years. She could imagine at first they exchanged greetings, their voices happy and light. However, the tone gradually changed the longer they spoke. Twitch used her irritated and defensive tone while her mother had increased her pitch and was nearly shouting.
"Mom, this is Taina. My girlfriend." Twitch put an arm around Caveira's shoulders and angled the screen so Caveira would appear on camera too.
Her mother's answer was icy. "Ah, yes. Girlfriend."
Twitch's smile was hopeful but determined, yet Caveira was too distracted by her soft touch and how good she smelled. Unfair she was so cute and even she smelled good, like sweet apples and… oh God, Caveira had to get a grip of herself before she buried her face on Twitch's lovely hair like a creepy weirdo. Caveira noticed they were arguing again, still in French. She caught a couple of words from the older woman, none very flattering and probably aimed at Caveira. Twitch looked outraged, and it sent a buzz of warmth in Caveira's stomach that she looked like she was defending her. Without thinking about it, she clasped Twitch's hand, squeezing it in support. The reaction was instant, Twitch's mother sneering at her from the screen. As if that could intimidate Caveira.
"No offense to your friend there, darling, but you cannot honestly tell me you prefer her company to coming home!" Twitch's mother was a bitch, Caveira decided. A shame she wasn't wearing her usual skull face-paint, it enhanced the power of her murderous stare. "Your sister and father miss you so much! We're all worried for our little Emmanuelle! And I have the perfect boy for you, you'll see. Try to not scare him off like you did last time, and I can guarantee that…"
Sick of this bloody farce and doing nothing, Caveira turned to the side. Putting a hand on the back of Twitch's head, she kissed her like the world was ending. Twitch didn't hesitate, putting as much enthusiasm into it as Caveira, licking her lips and giggling when they pulled apart. Caveira treated Twitch's mother to one of her deadly stares.
"We'll see if we can come for a visit," her smile was all teeth and none of the cheer. "If we're not busy saving innocent people from terrorists, that is."
Caveira closed the video call without letting the other woman say anything else. She had said more than enough and Caveira was sure nothing of it had been good. Twitch stared at her with a devious smirk, and only then did Caveira realise she had invited herself to meet Twitch's family. As her supposed girlfriend. Oh caralho.
"Do you want to practice more at being girlfriends?" Caveira nearly ran out of the room at Twitch's question, but she stayed, her heart beating like a war drum. "I know this nice café in town, how does it sound for a first date?"