Chapter 2: Hurt (The Fifth shot of Coffee)
**Set Before the Lore Video and Chapter 1**
This was her third shot of coffee.
She was tapping her fingers against the marble slate in Mirage's Bar. On her other hand, she's holding stacks of research articles that informed her the latest update on the new electrical generation and renewable energy source. Perhaps she would relay this to Dr. Somers? Every article has their proposal at the end for a grant and how there needs more exploration of the specific, niche field they're studying, so she quickly skims over the three paragraphs and takes another hasty gulp of coffee.
The music echoing through the bar was loud. It bothered her. The sounds would ring through the air and fill her mind. They were filling her mind, stockpiling onto one another to create an uncomfortable sensation that overwhelmed Wattson. It bothered her thinking. And that was all she could ask for. She wasn't the only one here. To her right, Ajay and Makoa and that girl, Ramya, were in a booth, making noise loudly, yet talking incoherently. She could hear them without really understanding what they were saying, only perceiving the conversations as grunts and shouts. Maybe Ramya said something funny because there was a burst of laughter that filled the room. Even Anita nearby, so focused on her work and solitude, made a chuckle.
She has no reason to be at the bar. It was open in the morning, yes. And even if he said it wasn't his thing, Witt knew how to make good coffee. And she needed the damn coffee.
But still, it would have made sense to sulk in her room. To be isolated until Renee practically brought the door down to get her to talk to someone. She needed time alone. That's what she said to Crypto. That's what she said to further drag out the unavoidable and further put salt to her wounds. She needed time alone. So, why was she blatantly outside?
After finishing her cup, Witt approached her. "Hey," he said. "You know, isn't it too early for you to be taking shots? I mean, it's coffee- so there's no harm, I guess. But isn't it- well, you're a mad genius so never mind. I guess that comes with the job?"
She gave him a smile. "I think I will be fine, Mr. Witt." She inched her cup forward. He nodded and poured her another. This time, without another word. She cupped her drink, feeling the chilling warmth burn through her skin. "You're much smarter than you pretend to be."
He snorted. She wondered if it was a sore spot- something Renee mentioned. That seemed to be going on these days. They were dancing around one another, but Wattson kept it to her own business.
"You know," he said. He leaned against his arms that were propped against the slate. "The old man. He misses you."
She shouldn't have inhaled in the middle of drinking. At least, not so sharply. She coughed. Her throat burning from the sensation and the heat. Wattson tried to contain it, but with each attempt to stuff it away, the burning sensation grew. "I beg your pardon?"
Elliot rolled his hands. A new sense of professionalism coming from him. He was across the bar and stood with the shelves of fancy liquor. Each bottle expensive, each promising a night of fun and erasure of pain. He was part of the show. The messenger and the bridge between customers and the liquor to help them forget the night. There was a particular barrier between Wattson and Mirage right now. In the game, they were equals. But now, he was a bartender, and she was a customer.
Was counseling part of the job?
"You're not the only one who comes here as a regular. Should have seen him yesterday. Grumpy- well, more than the usual."
Natalie would have smiled if she had the energy to. There was always a wave of caution and distrust from Crypto. He was a rock that refused to move. But like a river slowly eroding it away, he started to open up a bit more. Conversations here and there. Quips. Inside jokes. He appreciated her puns- that was something... right?
After all they have done together, they had to be something, right?
But when Dr. Caustic said Crypto double-crossed Loba, Wattson realized: she knew Crypto, but she didn't know the figure behind the legend. Because he refused to. He never tried to see Natalie. Even after all this time, after they worked together to locate the artifacts, he still saw her as an enemy.
Witt must have seen something from her face because he insisted, "I'm serious. He's not giving up on you. You don't have to keep hating him."
She would have laughed. There was no feeling of hatred against Crypto, just hurt. She didn't realize that in betrayal, pain preceded rage. That her anger was from sadness.
"Thank you, Mr. Witt. But I'll handle this on my own. You just make sure Renee keeps her cool with you."
And just like that, their conversation was over. Her only interaction for the day, ending in a sour taste of sarcasm.
She took a sip. Today, she would do more research. There was more time for her now. She could invest in her pylon interceptors. Yes, that was a good plan. She finished on what was her fourth. She used to love coffee- it tasted so sweet to her mouth. It helped her stay awake and alert. But now it tasted bitter and she only needed it to stay alive.
So, she asks for a fifth cup.
Hope you guys liked the chapter!
The next chapter (which will be longer and much more substantial) will have more interactions between the two. Hopefully, it will be done by next week!
Don't forget to leave a review because they really do help with the writing process!