Our Poisonous Perspective

Part 3: The Finale

Killjoy made a mental note to apologize to Cypher when she eventually returned to the Valorant base. His description of Viper had, indeed, not done the wild-eyed hysteria justice. The poison doctor was normally so calm. She radiated a readiness and poise that Killjoy could never match, nor understand. Even when the duelists in HQ got obnoxious during training or Raze and Killjoy were having too much fun at the lunch table, Viper never showed any emotion other than an annoyed twinkle in her venomous eyes.

Of course, Killjoy knew there was more going on beneath the surface of Viper's air of neutrality. She'd seen glimpses of it dozens of times in their shared moments. The german remembered a particularly worried shriek Viper had let slip when one of her snakes had bit the poor tinkerer. Thankfully it hadn't been one of the poisonous ones. It had always been the small things that made Viper tick and Killjoy wanted to see every single piece. She wanted so much more.

It was that desire, that wish, that pushed Killjoy to continue dodging every knife slash Viper threw at her. The onslaught seemed never ending. Vipers intensity never wavered, not even as Killjoy pleaded for her to listen. Her fury raged like a forest fire consuming every tree in it's sea of green.

"Viper, bitte!" Killjoy tried again for the hundredth time, rolling away from an aggressive downward slash, "I'm not your enemy!"

"Give it a rest girl. She'll never listen to you," Ivy drawled loudly from her place on the metal Kingdom ramp. She'd given up on watching the spectacle several minutes prior, choosing to instead pick at her nails in a rather bored fashion. Somehow Killjoys dance with death was not entertaining enough.

Killjoy ignored her anyway and once again ducked a few more crazed slashes from Viper. On another particularly heavy downward slash, Killjoy tried to counter with her own momentum, but Viper was faster. The knife tore a long gash across the round part of Killjoy's forearm, also cutting her jacket in the process. The german cried out and crumpled to the ground, clutching her arm against her chest. That didn't stop Viper though and Killjoy scrambled backwards, as the chemist dove down to pin her.

"You know me, Viper. Please! I'd never hurt you," Killjoy pleaded, her stamina tiring now that the wound in her arm thobbed with every pound of her heart.

To the german's surprise, Viper responded, though her words were harsh as she spit them out, "You lie! I know your tricks!"

"I've never lied to you!" Killjoy shot back, once again rolling away from another angry stab.

Viper let out a guttural, angry yell before returning to her feet, "Kingdom trash will say anything not to die!"

Killjoy used the lull in her enemy's onslaught to hurriedly get back on her feet. The effort it took to push herself upright was harder than she'd expected, but the techie managed it. There was blood smeared across the front of her jacket, as well as in red patches on her jeans. The concrete under Killjoys sneakers were also stained in several places. The yellow puffy coat was more likely to slow her down, so Killjoy peeled her puffy jacket off herself, with as little grimacing as she could manage. Once discarded, the German stood in just a plain, white tank top. The air was much colder now without her favorite garment and Killjoy shuddered.

In front of her, Viper watched her partially disrobe with an unsettling and confused curiosity in her eyes and she finally asked, "Why don't you fight back?"

"Because," Killjoy said, pausing to inspect the wound on her arm, "We're on the same team, you arsch."

"The same team?" Vipers face twisted into a snarl, "I'd never side with anyone from the Kingdom after what they did to me."

"Wait, what? I don't work for-"

"Don't listen to her!" Ivy interjected before Killjoy could finish. The older women had finally tuned into what was happening below and scurried over. She seemed a little panicked that Viper was no longer mindlessly attacking Killjoy, "She is untrustworthy!"

"But she won't fight back," Viper said seriously, her eyes hard and accusing, shining their delusional yellow hue, "If she were Kingdom, shouldn't she be trying to beat me? Capture me?"

"Does she not evade your attacks?" Ivy countered, playing the part of some suspicious, yet frightened friend, "Who's to say she isn't just waiting for the perfect moment?!"

Still clutching her lightly bleeding arm to her chest, Killjoy snorted and rolled her eyes, "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"What did you say to me?!" Ivy shrieked, about to stomp over when Viper's hand held her back. The cynical woman looked up at the chemist stunned.

"Why do you mock Lady Ivy's fear? You have no right." Viper asked, her skin less agitated from anger and now just lightly glowing from the activated chemicals inside her. Ivy's smug look returned, as she pretended to cower behind Viper's dangerous form.

"Well," Killjoy said slowly, making sure she appeared non-threatening, "Strategically, her logic is flawed."

"Explain."

Killjoy gestured, using the arm that wasn't wounded, to the entire courtyard and herself, "With this scale of this base and courtyard, why would I just charge the front of your base alone? I have no tactical advantage here. The situation is stacked against me. It makes no sense."

"Sabine, really," Ivy started, her voice sounding a bit unsure for the first time, "This is all part of Kingdoms plan. If you trust her now, you will let them win."

"That may be true," Viper mumbled to herself, the invisible gears in her head turning, "But how do you know she's a Kingdom spy?"

For the second time, Ivy smiled a smug and winning smile, purring into Viper's side with a light caress, "Because I can prove she's lying."

"And just how do you propose I've lied?" Killjoy asked.

"You said coming here alone would be foolish of someone who is our enemy, right?" Ivy replied, and when Killjoy nodded, Ivy reached up to tap her ear. Killjoy mirrored the motion until her hands felt the earpiece still nestled there. Her stomach sank. Shit. "What's in your ear darling? Go ahead, share with the class."

Knowing she'd been outplayed, Killjoy turned her head so Viper could see the mostly hidden earpiece cradled against her head. The anger returned to the chemist's eyes, "So. You are a liar."

"No! I'm-"

Viper didn't give Killjoy the chance to answer before pouncing into another flurry of attacks, giving Killjoy almost no time to dodge. What the german didn't manage to fully get away from landed her several more thin cut marks on her cheeks and shoulders. The dance had begun again and Killjoy was not only nervous, but exhausted. It took all of her strength to keep swaying and turning away from Vipers intensive strikes, when she needed to figure out what to do next.

"KJ, I've unjammed communication with Brim and the others," came Sova's voice in the Germans ear, though it was hard to hear him over her own heaving breaths and Vipers shouts of fury.

"That's great Sova," Killjoy grunted, shoulder checking Viper into an off balance swipe of her knife, "But we've got a problem now."

"Is Viper still brainwashed?" Sova asked, his voice concerned.

"It gets worse."

"Worse?"

"Hold on," Killjoy said quickly, catching Viper's arm mid thrust, the knife in her hands only mere inches from Killjoy's ribs.

"Talking to your buddies?" Viper hissed, her face scrunched into a fuming scowl. The yellow weblike energy lines crawling along Viper's features reminded Killjoy of a spider web. It was fitting. Her lover was trapped like a fly in her own poisoned mind, waiting for the impending doom of the spider's fangs to claim her. Killjoy needed to do something, but what? What could she do with Ivy right there, ensuring her victory?

"He's our buddy, actually," Killjoy retorted, trying to hold Viper's gaze, "As in both of us."

Viper scoffed, "You know nothing of who I associate with."

"You may be somewhat right about that, but I know more than you think," Killjoy grunted, surprising Viper with a twisting pull that took the doctor and the techie to the ground. The two struggled against each other until finally, with some luck, Killjoy wretched the knife out of Vipers hands. She tossed it to the side and the clattering metal echoed around the mostly empty courtyard, "Give me one more chance to show you."

"Why should I?" Viper said, her eyes wide and rabid, glowing their yellow hue, "You've lied, snuck in here with an army, and are trying to hurt Lady Ivy and I. You seem like a waste of time to me."

"Because I know I can change your mind. If I can't…," Killjoy trailed off, biting her lip. She was unsure of this risk, but she was running out of time, "I'll surrender. You can do whatever you want with me. Even kill me, if that will satisfy you."

The sudden bargain caught Viper off guard. The anger receded, if only slightly, from her sickly eyes and they narrowed almost completely, "Do you think I'm stupid?"

"On the contrary, you're one of the smartest people I know. Which is why I know you'll humor me." Killjoy said again, the tremble of her limbs also shaking her voice. She took a deep breath and added, "Bitte, meine Geliebte."

Ivy had, once again, tuned back into the situation with Viper and was rushing over when Viper held up her hand, "Fine. You've got a deal. I'll give you 5 minutes. No more, no less."

The first few minutes of convincing Viper was going, let's just say, less than ideal. Killjoy had been describing Dr Fei's lab and his research, when Ivy cut in, again, for the third time, "Yawn, yawn, yawn. A spy that's done their homework, how lovely. Can we put an end to this yet?"

Viper seemed to consider the idea, her eyes hardening in Killjoys general direction, before she shook her head, "I promised the spy 5 minutes. She's got at least 2 left. I owe her an honorable bargain."

Killjoy was running out of ideas. She thought for sure all her inside knowledge would be a dead giveaway, but it was all working against her. Viper thought she was a Kingdom spy. Of course she'd know Kingdom information. She'd already tried talking about the Valorant program, but Viper doesn't seem to remember it's existence at all. She'd even tried talking about Viper specific research specialties, like poison mixing and creating new antidotes, but it was chalked up to feigned interest. Nothing was working and now a real clock was actually ticking.

In times of heavy stress Killjoy often enjoyed her fair share of pacing, so pace she did. She racked her brain for any knowledge she knew that a good spy wouldn't know, but was coming up blank. Blueprints, Names, Places, even classified documents were all off the table. Even Sova, who had tried to help by mentioning things in her earpiece occasionally, was silent. So what could she–

"Sixty seconds left, little mouse," Viper said sternly, almost sadly, from her place beside Ivy. Her arms were crossed and the flickering, yellow veins in her neck and cheeks ominously thobbed.

"I am not a mou-," Killjoy started, ready to defend her misfortune when an idea hit her so hard she had to take a step back. The answer to Killjoy's problem had been right in front of her the whole time. If only she hadn't resorted to the logical approach first. Guess she was about to switch it up, "Okay let's try this again."

"I'm listening," Viper replied, not moving from her spot.

Killjoy cleared her throat and took one step forward, "I'm not a spy…because I know that you like coffee more than tea."

Viper blinked, "That's not really-"

Killjoy didn't let her finish, "But only black coffee, with a generous amount of honey; always before 7am." Vipers response came as a doe eyed stare with no words so the German continued, "I'm not a spy because I know you like cold showers. The hot water reminds you too much of fire."

Viper's eyes blinked slowly, but still she said nothing. Ivy was looking back and forth between the two agents, painfully fearful of Viper's lack of reaction.

Killjoy took another step forward, her confidence rising, "I'm not a spy because I know you like to work in silence. If it's too loud, you won't be able to hear if someone is sneaking up on you and you're afraid you won't notice….again."

Vipers arms were still crossed, but her eyes had softened into something between horror and astonishment. She seemed hyper focused on the words that were falling from Killjoy's lips, so she pressed on.

"I'm not a spy because I know that your favorite color is actually white, not green. White reminds you of death and how it's often intertwined with peace. You find death peaceful, don't you Viper?"

Viper went to reply, but Ivy had heard enough. She quickly strode forward, blocking Viper's line of sight to Killjoy, "Viper dearie, this Kingdom trash is obviously really good at tracking down info on you, but there's really no need to humor this charade any longer. Her chance has long passed."

The courtyard was deafeningly silent for an indistinguishable amount of time, way longer than Killjoy's original sixty second countdown, before the chemist finally spoke, "How does she know that stuff about me?"

The question was clearly aimed at Ivy, who was taken aback by the sudden intensity. She quickly sputtered out, "I dont very well know dear-"

"HOW DOES SHE KNOW THAT STUFF ABOUT ME!?" Viper yelled this time, interrupting Ivy's reply. Her eyes were angry, but for once, they weren't aimed at Killjoy, "I've never shared that stuff with anyone before. No one. So where did she get it from?"

Killjoy knew Ivy was trying to come up with some lie, something to turn the tables and ruin this momentum. So before Ivy could even speak, Killjoy quickly chimed in, "Because you've told me before."

Viper stepped around Ivy and, with the same growing intensity, stomped over to the German, the emotions on Viper's face twisting into an unsure amalgamation, "Why would I do that? Who are you really?"

Killjoy reached up, with the arm not wounded and cradled to her stomach, to press a hand against Viper's cheek. The memory of Viper hovering over her, being vulnerable with her, swelled with emotion in Killjoys chest. She knew she should answer Viper's questions. She knew that, right now, she had the upper hand and not taking advantage of it could cost her life. But with the opportunity presenting itself, and her emotions overwhelming her, Killjoy couldn't stop the words from tumbling out of her mouth before she could catch them, "I just love you."

Four precious words. That was all it took. Killjoy had been expecting retaliation. Anger. Accusations. Something akin of what Viper had been like every second of every minute before right now. However, the chemist was just staring, wide eyed, for what felt like an eternity. Then, slowly, like sand in an hourglass, the yellow chemical haze drained from Viper's face and when the ombre was gone, Viper blinked awkwardly at the german.

"Killjoy?"

Viper didn't know if she was dead or dreaming or neither. Nothing hurt, which was weird considering she'd been in pain the last time she could remember. The chemist could hear her name being shouted from somewhere. It sounded far away. It was hard to grasp the words. She wasn't even really sure why someone would be shouting at her anyway.

What happened? Where was she? Viper strained her ears as hard as she could manage, but nothing happened. The voices still carried overhead in the distance, like the cawing of seagulls along a distant coast. Nothing to see, only to hear.

It wasn't like herself to be this confused; jumbled even. Surely it was all just a part of Ivy's tricks. Viper's thoughts halted at the mention of Ivy's name. She remembered that name. Where had she heard it before? Certainly she could remember that, right?

Viper's thoughts churned unsteadily around a smokey haze, bumping into each other and making the chemist deeply uncertain. She couldn't really place anything clearly. Ivy was all she knew right now. Again, voices muffled together outside her mind and Viper tried even harder to hear them. Most of the words were still floating too far, but one familiar name fell into her lap and her mind jolted at the realization.

"Killjoy," Viper said, this time with her real mouth, in the real world. The one outside her foggy mind. The name that, with enough focus, was helping Viper to slowly remember where she was, "Killjoy?"

"Viper?!" Killjoy practically shrieked from her place in front of a bound Ivy. The German was quickly at Viper's side, a hand pressing gently against her arm, "You're talking. You're really talking!"

"Should I not be?" Viper asked, her voice tired; frail.

"I-I don't know, " Killjoy conceded, "You collapsed after we snapped you out of the brainwash."

Viper frowned, "Ivy's brainwash."

Killjoy nodded, her thick eyebrows furrowed, "Yes. That one. But it's over now. You're safe."

"I wouldn't be so sure, dearie." Ivy called, her body stiff from being bound around her midsection. Even though she'd been subdued, her voice was still just as sing-songy as ever.

Killjoy growled, not even bothering to face the other women, "Shut it, or else, you piece of work."

Up until now, Viper hadn't been able to get her eyes open. The action was difficult with her mind being so sluggish. However, Killjoy's tone approached something that felt wildly out of character for her, so the chemist forced her eyes to open. Her german had seen better days.

Killjoy's beanie was somehow still on, or perhaps she found it and put it on, but it was crooked. The hair under it was messy and pushed to one side. Small, thin cuts littered the germans face too. Viper was a little shocked to see the signature yellow coat gone. All that remained was a dirty shirt and exposed, bruised shoulders.

"Don't pay her any mind," Viper said slowly, meeting Killjoy's gaze, noting the cracked glasses as well.

"She's been the worst prisoner yet," A heavy voice replied from behind Viper. It was a voice that she couldn't put a name too right away, at least until the white haired man strode into view, "Getting under everyone's skin is quite the feat."

"Sova," Viper replied, "Thanks for coming."

"Konechno my friend."

"She's more like the worst person ever in my opinion," Killjoy added, looking over her shoulder to snort laugh at Sova, "But that's a fair assessment."

"What's the plan then?" Viper managed to ask through the slowly returning pain. The fog was slowly lifting from the brainwash and the consequences were both a curse and a blessing. She didn't know how much longer she'd be able to stand it.

"Brimstone is trying to contact Sage for a rendezvous. They want to get you out of here as soon as possible," Killjoy answered, the sincerity in her voice making Viper wish she could return it.

Sova sighed loudly and added, "I'd better check on that actually. Let me know if there are any updates with Viper's condition?"

"I will."

"Good. I'll be right back."

Viper watched Sova jog out of her field of view before closing her eyes and trying to relax. Each heartbeat brought a wave of nausea and pain that Viper really wanted to ignore.

"How are you feeling Sabine? Not well I hope?" Ivy called again, this time cackling after her questions like she was in on some joke. The sound was shrill and a little hysterical.

Once again, Killjoy snapped at her, "What did I say?! Shut the hell up!"

"Are you gonna make me, little German girl? Or will you send the snake to fight all your battles?"

"You know what-"

"She wants to be in your head, KJ. That's what she's good at," Viper interjected, though her voice was strained.

"I know that! Trust me, I do. But it's been like this for several hours and I'm sick of it."

Viper groaned, her head becoming fuzzy. When the wave of dizziness passed, she croaked out, "This is almost over."

Killjoy was silent for a few heartbeats and Viper wasn't sure if she'd overstepped, but then the gentle presence returned to her arm and Killjoy resumed holding it.

"You're right. I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Viper said softly, the pain finally dragging her into an unconscious state, "You saved my life."

The second time Viper woke up, she felt a million times better than before. Plus she hadn't woken up on the ground this time, which was an added bonus for her exhausted muscles. Apparently the chemist had been unconscious for just shy of a week, waking up on the sixth day quite unexpectedly. Sage had taken incredibly good care of her and after two blood transfusions, several force fed meals, and minor wound treatment, Viper was finally improving. Which had been such a relief to Killjoy, who had been there every step of the way. Not out of choice though, as she also sustained quite a few injuries during her scuffle with Viper.

Once Killjoy was well enough to move about, the two agents spent a lot of time together while Sage monitored the rest of Viper's recovery. Given how much time had passed since the rescue, the brilliant minds of the Valorant programs had figured out most of what Ivy had managed to accomplish with the brainwash chemicals.

Killjoy gave a very detailed lecture on the technology, making sure to use her fight with Viper as evidence. The yellow, hazey, smoke originally inhaled turned out to be a benign reagent used to act as a starting piece. It was the foundation. Similarly to cigarette smoke, the lungs absorb the chemical into the bloodstream and lie in wait for the catalyst.

The real scientific breakthrough was how Ivy managed to bioengineer a chemical to activate repeatedly without contact. That was the only thing Killjoy wasn't entirely sure of yet, and it made creating an antidote a long road cut out for her. Viper was sure the techie would be needing her help though, not that she minded.

Once the last week of recovery was all said and done, the two agents resumed life like it had been before Viper's capture. Or at least, they tried too. It was hard to pretend like the Ivy situation had been all the closure they needed. Neither Killjoy nor Viper wanted to cross into uncharted territory again, probably for different reasons, but it was all still very real. The worst part though, to Viper anyway, wasn't even the elephant in the room. It was Killjoy.

The German had become stiff and somewhat robotic with Viper as of late, which left a lot to be desired from before. The joy wasn't all gone, of course, since it was probably impossible for Killjoy to be completely lifeless. The techie was, afterall, a bundle of goofy positivity. The kind Viper loved….and hated.

The real change was when the two were alone. It was maddening to feel like so much had changed and yet nothing really had. Viper knew her own error started the whole chain reaction, even if she loathed to admit it. So it seemed fitting for her to initiate this…acknowledgment of Killjoy's personality change. But it didn't feel that easy. What could she do? What should she say? Viper was out of her element here. Thankfully, that thought reminded her of a conversation she had with a relatively smart Russian hunter, and his advice, however vague it was. Perhaps starting slow really was the only solution.

So, on a particularly heavy mission day, where Killjoy had been gone working all day, Viper waited patiently in her lab for the door to open. She had a plan in mind, duh. Viper was nothing short of meticulous. However, the plan scared her. It really did. Things were going to be laid bare, once and for all, and that was going to be a first for everyone. Most of all, Viper herself.

For the first few hours of waiting, Viper busied herself with the usual experiments, working hard on an antidote for Kingdoms new yellow mist. It was always so easy to get lost in her work. Eventually though, just when Viper was expecting Killjoy to skip a visit with her, the lab door hissed alive, and her heart stuttered at the weight of the techies' presence.

"Guten Abend, Viper," Killjoy greeted tiredly, her feet heavily dragging against the floor, no doubt headed for the couch, "Sorry I'm late."

"It's quite alright," Viper answered, letting out a small breath, trying to relax her rigid spine, "You know I work late."

"Ja, I know. But I planned on working with you for a bit and now I can't."

Viper felt the sincerity of that statement in her frightened heart and she fought back the smile that was trying to crack her calm exterior, "There is always tomorrow."

Killjoy hummed casually and plopped down on the couch, "Right."

The room was quiet then. No one said anything. Viper's back was to Killjoy and fear kept her rooted in place; right to the floor. Was she really going to let fear control her? Just like it had when Killjoy first came to Valorant? She remembered that feeling all too well.

"No," Viper mumbled to herself, balling her shaky hands into fists, "No I won't."

"What was that?" Killjoy asked quickly.

Viper spun around and finally faced the other agent. For weeks, the chemist had spent many nights watching Killjoy try to be whatever Viper wanted her to be. Whatever Viper made her believe was the right way to be with her. That had to change. It had to change right now.

"You've been acting differently," Viper said matter-of-factly, her eyes boring into Killjoys, "Ever since we returned from Split and Ivy was dealt with."

"I–," Killjoy sputtered, her eyes blinking rapidly, "I don't know what you mean?"

"Do not act dumb, KJ. It does not suit you," Viper said, rolling her eyes in annoyance.

"Dumb? You wound me."

"Shall I spell it out for you?" Viper asked, her eyebrow arching in challenge, "Or will you end this charade yourself?"

Killjoy seemed to weigh the question heavily for several moments before sighing, "Fine. You got me."

"Why?"

"Why?" the German repeated, unsure, "Why have I been acting differently?"

"Obviously," Viper replied pointedly, picking a piece of dust from her lab coat. She felt a little bad for putting Killjoy on the spot, but it had to be done. Viper worked best when things got done sooner rather than later.

"I was trying to be-"

"Stop," Viper interrupted, "I've heard plenty."

"But I didn't–" Killjoy tried again, but Viper raised a hand to silence her.

"I only wanted to see if my hypothesis was correct," Viper explained, beginning to stride towards the occupied couch, "And, as usual, I was correct."

"Okay," Killjoy said, the uncertainty returning, "You don't like it then."

"Correct," Viper answered smoothly.

Killjoy sighed again, "Well I don't have the energy to fight right now. So I can just–"

Viper quickly caught Killjoy's moving form with a hand on her shoulder, and pushed her firmly back onto the couch. With wide eyes watching her, the chemist slipped effortlessly across the Germans lap.

"Viper?" Killjoy asked, her voice matching the shocked look on her face. It made Viper feel good inside.

"I'm not trying to fight with you," Viper said sternly, "I…messed up last time we talked and I need to make up for that."

"It's fine, It was my fault anyways," Killjoy replied quickly, her cheeks tinting red. Viper wasn't sure that it was out of embarrassment or something to do with Viper's dominant position. Either way, the chemist found it endearing.

"You know that's a lie," Viper mumbled, reaching up to cup the techie's face, "I hurt your feelings all those weeks ago; when you came to see me."

Killjoy's eyes darted quickly around Viper's face. The chemist had no idea what the German was searching for in her features, but she tried to show she was sincere as best she could. Finally, Killjoy spoke, her eyes watering, "Why did you do it?"

"I was scared of how much you knew me."

"You?" Killjoy sniffled, "You were scared?"

"Speak of it to anyone and I'll make your life a living hell," Viper quickly interjected, her lips curving into a frown, "But yes."

"It's okay to be scared, yah know."

"Is it?"

"I was scared when Ivy took you."

"I was…scared then as well."

"She was going to kill you," Killjoy muttered, "She wanted you to kill me too."

"I, thankfully, don't remember anything from the brainwash. It was like," Viper paused to think and tuck some loose hair behind her ear, "Like being in a dream you aren't sure is fake."

"Could you see me? Hear me?" Killjoy asked, her brown eyes rapidly flickering back and forth.

"No," Viper said simply, "I was at Ivy's malicious beck and call."

"I hated seeing you like that. And then when you passed out. I thought…I thought…," Killjoy tried to say, trailing off, visibility swallowing the end of the sentence. She shook her head.

"I would have been disappointed to die there."

"VIPER!" Killjoy scolded, leaning forward to glare at the other woman angrily.

"What? It's true. There's too much to do."

Killjoy scoffed and reached up to push her glasses up, "Like what?"

The two agents looked at each other for a long time. The silence of Viper's lab was the perfect ambience for this type of confession. It felt cut off from the world. It felt isolated. There was nothing there but them and the unjudging, white walls. Even the clock's ticking felt muted in the background.

"If I tell you about my past, will you be satisfied from prying?" Viper finally said, her hand resuming the strokes on Killjoy's cheek, "Will you accept how far I let you in?"

The German grinned then, the unshed tears mostly gone, "Probably not."

"You're insufferable," Viper answered, the annoyance returning to her pursed lips.

"And yet here you are," Killjoy shot back smugly, her eyes dazzling behind her reflective glasses.

"I can leave," Viper said curtly, turning to remove herself from Killjoy's lap.

"NO. No," Killjoy interjected hurriedly, wrapping her arms tightly around Viper's waist, "Bleiben. Please." Viper stiffened at the enclosed arms around her, but relaxed when she met Killjoy's honest, affectionate gaze. Those eyes said safe. Those eyes said stay. How could she refuse?

"Very well," Viper conceded, resituating her legs so they returned to their place pressed against the Germans hips, "But you must promise to listen."

"You have my attention," Killjoy promised.

The chemist took a deep breath and brought her hands to hold Killjoys', newly acquired, yellow jacket. It felt like a good anchor. "I am not good with people. I've never been. Even when Ivy and I were together, I kept her at a distance because it protected me from ever having my weaknesses used against me." Killjoy nodded, keeping quiet, so Viper continued, "Similar to your anger, Ivy too was angry that I did not show her my inner self. It worsened while I was on the run since I did everything I could to avoid contact with her. When she finally tracked me down, she confronted me about my feelings and again, similar to us, I fought back."

Killjoy snorted, letting out a small laugh, "She did NOT take that well, did she?"

"No," Viper confessed, her eyes falling from the Germans face, "She took it horribly. I said so many mean, awful lies just to get her to go away. I had no idea she'd remember them for the rest of her days."

"Did you ever apologize?"

"Sadly, by the time I realized I should, she'd disappeared off the grid. Even Kingdom had lost track of her."

"What was next then?" Killjoy asked, her heavy eyebrows furrowed.

"I just kept moving. City to city. Town to town. Dodging Kingdoms operatives every chance I got."

"What was that like for you?" Killjoy asked, her voice taking on a more serious tone. Viper wanted nothing more than to stop there, to stop talking about this awful time in her life, but the Germans soft caress on her back and warm words of curiosity urged her forward.

"It was necessary. But it was also miserable. I was disgusted with my burnt skin and dejected reputation. Each new place I hid away in felt like a lower rung on the ladder of my life. I was furious at the world and that same fury broke me inside."

"Viper…" Killjoy tried to say, but Viper shook her head.

"Eventually, Brim found me and asked if I felt strongly enough about Kingdom to start fighting against them. Well…you know the rest," Viper finished solemnly. She felt exposed, but hopefully was doing the right thing by telling the other agent part of her past.

Killjoy hummed softly, before using a hand to lift Viper's chin. The leather of her glove was worn and soft against the chemist's skin, "Thank you for telling me."

"Yo-You are welcome," Viper stuttered, her chest feeling strange under the weirdly soft stare Killjoy was giving her, "My time away from you, and seeing Ivy again, made me realize something."

"And that is?"

"That I would not repeat the same mistake twice."

"You? Make mistakes?" Killjoy laughed out loud, her head falling back against the couch cushions, "I didn't think you made those."

"Pushing away someone I love is a pretty big one," Viper said pointedly, unable to fight the half smile from pushing onto her face. Killjoy's happiness was highly contagious.

Suddenly, as if finally hearing what Viper had said, the Germans head snapped back up. Her eyes darted quickly across the chemist's features, searching for something. A joke maybe. Or a hint of sarcasm. But Viper knew she would find none. As scary as the feeling was, her chest was warm with acceptance.

"Did you just-,"

"I did."

"You're serious?"

"I am."

"Since when?"

Viper considered the question, trying to think back to a time when the feeling might have bloomed originally. Many memories came to mind, all of which were likely candidates. It was possible Viper would never truly know when the feeling had started. Love will often take their victims by surprise, like suddenly being blind when you once used to see everything. Viper knew that seeing Killjoy's face while she lay on the operating table in Ivy's tower of hell had at least made her sure. No doubt about it.

"I don't know where it began. All I know is that while Ivy had me locked in the Kingdom base, I thought I'd never see you again. I thought she'd make me kill you with my bare hands, and I would never know. So when I saw you I-," Viper quickly buried her head into the crook of Killjoys neck, pressing her lips to the skin there, "I was overjoyed"

"You knew it wasn't over."

Viper let out a shaky laugh, "Yes. I knew I could still make it right with you. I knew I loved you."

Killjoy tightened her grip around Viper's waist and pushed the chemist to the side until she fell off her lap. Viper was startled by the change of position, not used to being on her back, but then Killjoy climbed on top of her, leaving one leg nestled in between hers. The techie was holding herself up with just one arm, while the other brushed hair out of Viper's face.

"I love you too." Killjoy replied, leaning down to steal a kiss right from Viper's lips. The kiss was soft at first; timid even. They'd kissed lots of times since the Split situation and Viper's capture, but not like this. The movement of their lips against each other felt like they were writing their own apologies. Like they were lost in the dark and this kiss was the light they ran towards.

Killjoy pulled back and gave Viper her signature goofy smile, "I hope you don't mind that I did that."

"Actually, I do," Viper said seriously, her mouth curving into a frown.

"What?"

"I'm disappointed. Why did you stop?"

Killjoy's worry was instantly replaced with annoyance and she scoffed, "I can't believe you."

"What are you going to do about it?" Viper teased back, her hands grazing the skin under the hanging part of Killjoys shirt and jacket.

The German shivered, "You want me to show you?"

"I do," came the purr of Viper's reply.

Both agents knew the couch was not necessarily the best place for this, considering Sova or Brim could walk in at any time to talk mission stuff. But neither of them really seemed to care at that moment. It was late enough and their emotions were burning them from the inside out. Clothes were haphazardly strewn about the floor and each touch of mouth or tongue was more intense than the last. Even the sounds they made felt more sexually charged with every breath.

When their highs were finally sated and their hands stopped wandering to sensitive places, Viper had commanded they move to a bedroom. Once in an actual bed, the two agents rejoined under the covers for the night, just before sleep could claim them.

"I'm still curious about something, Viper," Killjoy whispered, her bare hand trailing softly up and down Viper's arm.

"Mm?" The chemist responded.

"When did you and Sova start being friends?"

Viper let out a low chuckle, "Jealous, are we?"

"No. Just surprised. He seemed pretty concerned when you were captured."

"Mostly work, I suppose. I'm working on a poison arrow schematic for him."

Killjoy gasped and sat up on her elbow, "Without me?! How could you be so selfish?"

Viper turned her head away from the ceiling, so she could see the fake pout on the techies face, "What can I say. I like keeping things to myself."

"Does that include me?"

"It definitely does," Viper replied quickly, leaning up to steal a kiss.

The kiss was short and sweet and Killjoy eventually laid back down and returned to tracing lines down Viper's arm, "So…I really don't have to worry about Sova?"

Viper couldn't stop the bubble of laughter that escaped her mouth and even as Killjoy insisted it was for other reasons besides jealousy, the chemist didn't buy any of it. It felt good to be wanted; cared for. Killjoy had reignited an old flame in Viper that she'd long since lost the matches to. Sure, she wasn't used to the closeness. Maybe she never would be. Her past was full of experiences that made her scared to take down her barriers. But if it meant that Killjoy would keep making her laugh like that, then maybe…it was worth trying.

Fin

The End