Chapter 3

Fade could barely believe the date circled on her calendar. She blinked several times at the unfamiliar handwriting. When the initiator squinted closer, it became more obvious that Neon had written it. Scrawled in blue, thin strokes, was a small reminder of what the duelist had deemed the "half year celebration". It was also accompanied by a few doodled hearts and sparkles.

Fade's lips quirked up at the whole "Neon-ness" of the note, "The little spark can be sneaky after all. Who would've guessed."

The initiator pulled out her phone to shoot the duelist a text.

"There is a note on my calendar. You wouldn't have anything to do with that would you, Tala?"

Fade slid the device back into her pocket and returned to her task of crossing off the past days. From her laptop, music leaked softly into the room. It was the new song Neon had shown her. Fade was kinda obsessed. Surprised too, since the beat was much lighter than what she was used to. The memory of sharing her music was still fresh in Fade's mind.

Neon had found the initiator stargazing one night, eyes closed and earbuds in. She'd plopped down and made herself comfortable next to Fade. When the latter questioned her, Neon just smiled and asked to listen too. Their arms were smushed together and the night was a bit muggy, but Fade didn't mind one bit as she watched Neon close her own eyes and rock her head to the beat. After that it was just a matter of the duelist picking a song, then Fade, then Neon and so on. It was the first time the dream seer could remember someone asking to learn something about her. Just her.

A chime sounded and Fade was back in her room. She set the marker down she'd been writing with, and leaned against the desk for support. The text read: "You always make it sound like I'm in trouble. X.x"

Fade's smile returned, followed by a small laugh before she replied back, "Not in trouble :P Just wanted to confirm it was you. How'd you sneak past me?"

The response was almost immediate: "Last weekend! We had to stop by your room so you could change, remember? I just wrote it while I waited."

"What's it for?" Fade typed back.

There were several times the dots appeared then disappeared until a message finally came through, "It's going to be half a year since we made up 3"

Fade coughed suddenly, the little heart catching her off guard. She'd been expecting that answer, obviously, but the way Neon was so casual about it made Fade inhale spit.

Things have been sweet since the two agents made amends, but the longer they spent time together the more Fade was unsure of how she felt. Nightmare hadn't been helping either, encouraging the more…"direct" approach. Fade never could follow through though. She wasn't brash and headstrong like Neon was. The very thought of speaking her tangled feeling out loud made Fade feel queasy, but staring at the heart on her screen did help a bit.

Another chime sounded. Another text, "Is it weird that I wanted to celebrate it? :(( "

Fade frowned and quickly typed back, "No no, it's not weird. I was just a bit surprised you remembered something like that."

When a reply didn't come back immediately, Fade decided that, with the calendar finished and hung up, she really outta take Prowler for a walk. He was starting to itch at her skin again. Her mission the night before fed him well, so she knew he was just being antsy.

Fade pulled a jacket out of the closet and shouldered it on before heading out. She didn't have a destination in mind when she left. The only thing that felt intuitive was "outside", but before long her feet had carried her to the track. The afternoon sun was dipping behind the horizon, painting the sky that creamsicle ombre everyone loved so much.

The initiator was about to let Prowler out when blue and yellow caught her eyes. Fade's eyes snapped to the far left side of the track field.

Neon was running (big surprise) small laps back and forth at the end of the field, stopping every so often to slide and shoot her pistol. The wooden circle targets she'd set up opposite her, were nearly indistinguishable with the amount of holes in them. Fade could tell she'd been going at this awhile since her electrical powers seemed less erratic. There wasn't a single spark.

The duelist didn't seem to notice Fade at all as she continued to push herself relentlessly. It wasn't until her pistol had no more bullets that she stopped. Fade started to call out when Neon's next move caught the words in her throat.

The duelist was stretching her hands over her head, getting to her tiptoes. Then she bent over to stretch her legs and Fade was just stuck. The dream seer had seen Neon plenty of times in just a sports bra and shorts. They've trained many evenings together, with no problems, but there was something about how Fade's eyes roamed over Neon's vast ocean of flesh that felt different.

"Holy shit," Fade mumbled.

Neon's skin was tan, slick with sweat, reflecting light from the sunset. Her legs were toned and strong, leading Fade's eyes over an ass and back she wanted to touch with such intensity it felt like Nightmare was tugging at her. Then Fade's gaze landed on smooth shoulders and frazzled hair. Even Neon's head turning accented the way her neck curved. How could she have missed all these things before? Was she really so easily distracted?

"You desire her," Nightmare said heavily in her head, causing Fade to snap out of her reverie. She scowled.

"What are you talking about?" Fade whispered fiercely.

"The one that controls lighting. The girl. You desire her. An interesting development," they replied simply, their voice low and impersonal, like they just observed a bird using a birdbath and not Fade checking out her teammate.

"Will you stay out of my relationships?"

"A friend can be twisted, Hazal. Their loyalty subpar at best," Fade felt the voice in her mind practically grin, "But to hold a heart? That is near absolute control."

"That's an awful sentiment," Fade replied dryly, rolling her eyes, "Get with the times."

Nightmare's laugh echoed several times before fading away completely, "I care not for your mortality qualms. I sense your emotions too easily. You could have her."

Fade opened her mouth to reply, but then Neon spun around and shrieked. Their eyes met and Fade couldn't stop her laughter from bubbling over.

"Oi! Don't laugh! You can't just sneak up on people like that!" Neon yelled from across the field.

"Your scream was cute!" Fade shouted back.

The duelist's face fell into a frown, but that didn't stop her from gathering her things. After a minute, Neon walked over to Fade, the frown still on her lips, "I can't believe you ignored my text, then came all the way out here to scare the fuck outta me. Very uncool."

The initiator held up her hands, "It wasn't my intention. Honest. I was taking Prowler for a walk."

"A huh. Right," Neon quipped, adjusting her hold on the few different guns she had, "Did you even read what I said?"

"...no"

"Figures."

"Tell me?" Fade replied quickly, walking forward to take the bucky and stinger from Neon's handful.

The duelists frown softened and she sighed wistfully, "I don't know if I should. You did scare me. Kinda rude."

"How can I make it up to you?" Fade asked genuinely, walking backwards, her eyes pleading with Neon to just let it go.

The duelist took several minutes to think, humming to fill the silence. Fade prodded several times only to be ignored. It wasn't until the guns were finally put away in the range and they were back outside that Neon replied, her voice annoyed "I just wanna know what you were doing if not trying to scare me. You know how much I hate being scared."

Fade's face started to flush. The things Nightmare had said started to pop back in her head as well as images of glistening skin and that desire to touch. She couldn't say that. How the hell would she even start?

Fade cleared her throat and tried to sound sure, "I really was trying to take Prowler for a walk."

Neon stood like stone for one beat, then two. Until those two turned into the three and four. After many many moments, Neon was still just staring pointedly at Fade.

"What?" Fade asked.

"I can tell you're keeping something from me," Neon accused, slapping a hand against her thigh, "We've hung out together almost everyday the last few months or so. I've picked up on how you fib."

"Neon, I'm not–"

"Tell me."

"Couldn't I–"

The electric agent crossed her arms, "C'mon Fade. Sabihin ang totoo. Then I'll let it slide."

Fade gnawed on the inside of her cheek until she could faintly taste blood. This was such a bad idea. A terrible idea even. This was basically a confession. The initiator's stomach churned at the mixed thoughts of rejection and acceptance. What if this cost their friendship?

"Hello? Fade?" Neon said, her tone uncertain, "You're being weird and quiet. I thought you were joking with me. Is everything ok?"

There was that kindness again. This was the part of Neon that had swept Fade up and carried her out to sea. The duelist should still be upset with her, but here she was asking if Fade needed help. It was so goddamn selfless and pure that Fade couldn't take how much her heart swelled in pride. Not to mention that, if she had too, Neon took no shit either. Their enemies knew if she was pissed.

"Can we talk about it in my room?" Fade asked cautiously, shoving her hands into her jacket pockets.

"Oh! Uh, yeah of course. Lead the way," Neon offered, sweeping her hands ahead of her.

The two agents walked in a tense silence to Fade's apartment. It was weird to feel as if so much of their progress was undone in just the last few minutes. For the moment, Neon was distant and rigid as she walked. Fade wasn't much better, still chewing on her lip anxiously and avoiding Neon's glances. The dream seer could only hope their talk went well. She didn't know if it would.

"Make yourself at home," Fade said softly, swinging her door open.

"Thanks, D." Neon mumbled back.

Fade let out a scoff, shutting the door behind her, "D? Really?"

Neon snorted and plopped onto Fade's bed, removing her shoes, "It's short and sweet, ok? Don't hate on the nickname."

"Where did it even come from?" Fade asked, moving to hit the lamp on her desk. She also hung her jacket over her desk chair.

When the room was illuminated, Neon was wearing a small blush, "It's like the letter in your codename, but could stand for a lot of the things I associate with you. Dreams. Darkness. Deadly…" the duelist trailed off.

"Huh. I think I could get used to that."

"Yeah?" Neon asked, sounding hopeful.

Fade nodded and joined Neon on the bed, "Yeah."

Then they were silent. Fade balled her hands into fists on her thighs, still extremely nervous to voice her emotions out loud. This went against every fiber of her being. Every nerve was screaming for her mouth to remain closed.

Neon gently set a hand on one of Fade's clenched fists and that feeling from before came back. That pride. That admiration. That…what the fuck was it?

"Just like I mentioned earlier, I was trying to take Prowler for a walk," Fade began, staring at Neon's hand atop her's for courage, "I didn't know where I was walking to until I ended up at the track. I guess maybe subconsciously I knew you'd be there?" Fade shrugged.

"Okay.." Neon probbed gently.

"Then I saw you. Almost right away. The blue and yellow colors are hard to miss. Don't ever go on a stealth mission." Neon bumped her shoulder into Fade's and snickered. That was a good sign, so Fade continued, "Anyway. After I saw you, I was surprised to see you still training so late. I…was going to call out to you."

"You were?"

"Yeah."

"But you didn't," Neon clarified, leaning forward to try and meet Fade's gaze, "Why not?"

Fade licked her lips and took a deep breath. It was now or never. Six months in the making, with many, many more months of watching from afar. The initiator turned to face Neon on the bed, tucking her leg under the other.

"I had a realization."

Neon's eyes widened and darted across Fade's face, "What do you mean?"

Fade, as if daring Neon to push her away, slowly cupped the duelist's cheek. It was warm under her hand, "I couldn't take my eyes off you, Neon. You were just…so fucking beautiful that I couldn't think. My mouth wouldn't move."

Neon eyes remained large, but the blush was back and even darker. She also didn't push Fade's hand away so the dream seer just kept talking, "I've always been so enthralled by you. Your power is so tangible and feral that I can't help but respect you and all the work you do to stay in control. We're so similar in that way."

A pause.

"Then, after choosing to forgive me, you let me get to know you. The other parts of you," Fade's face lifted into a smile, "And I just started to like you even more. Every act of kindness moved my heart into a panic only you could quell. Your hugs are so vulnerable that it's easy to see your trust. Even the way you have fun is so contagious I can't stop smiling. Do you know what I'm trying to say?"

Neon's mouth opened and then closed. It opened again, then closed again. Fade had to restrain the urge to talk more. She was so nervous. Against Neon's cheek, her thumb began to brush against the curve there.

"Could you say it?"

Fade's thumb stilled, "Say it?"

Neon nodded quickly, leaning into Fade's hand, "I know what you're trying to say, but I still want to hear it."

Fade swallowed her own fear as Nightmare rumbled in her chest. In satisfaction? In disapproval? Fade didn't know. All Fade knew is that the girl in front of her deserved to know how she felt.

"I think…I think I'm falling for you, Tala. I don't know how it happened, but–"

Neon suddenly threw herself into Fade's arms and the dream seer barely kept herself upright from the impact. It took a few seconds to realize this was a positive reaction, but once she did, Fade wrapped her arms around Neon's waist. They stayed like that until Neon tried mumbling something.

"I can't hear you, y'know," Fade joked, trying to tilt the duelist away from her chest, but she wouldn't budge. Smirking, Fade swapped up her tactic and pulled Neon on top of her as she laid back. That got Neon's attention.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Getting comfortable. I hope you don't mind," Fade offered, a smug smile pulling at her lips.

"I'm probably really heavy though!" Neon exclaimed, trying to fumble backwards. Fade wasn't having any of that.

The dream seer tightened her grip on the duelist's hips, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to convey that the placement was wanted. Neon wiggled nervously regardless and would not look in Fade's direction.

"Little spark. Talk to me. The gears in your head are spinning so fast."

Neon blew all the air out of her cheeks and sighed, "I'm…new to this, ok? The," the electric agent paused to wave her hands towards Fade, "way I feel about you. What I want. It's all new. It's all scary."
Fade removed her hands from Neon and pushed herself onto her elbows, "I'm scared too, Neon. I may have more experience, but this is different," Fade waited until the duelist's eyes finally looked at her, "You're different."

"Different?" Neon asked, her blush still quite prominent along her cheeks and ears.

Fade smiled, "Yes, tatlim. You actually matter to me. Unlike every other person I've met."

At this revelation, Neon grew even quieter. Her eyes, though, never left Fade's. It seemed like the runner was thinking, but it also seemed like she was lost. Fade searched Neon's face the whole time, looking for a sign that something was wrong, but nothing ever came.

Finally, Neon leaned forward, falling onto her hands to hover above Fade. Their faces were so close, that the color of Neon's eyes was all Fade could see. She was surrounded by caramel. Or was it honey? Then those eyes darted to her lips and Fade felt her gut clench.

"I don't know if I'm ready for…everything. But I really want to kiss you. So I'm going to," Neon declared, her whisper blowing soft air against Fade's face. It was pleasant.

Then it was electric, every pun intended. Neon's lips were hot, probably from the previous training or non stop blushing. Either way, Fade melted into them, her eyes slipping closed. Neon tasted like peaches and sand. Like a crashing wave and slurping fruit juice off your fingers. The kiss was rushed and messy. Just like Neon, Fade thought.

Their lips would press and retreat just to press back again for more. Sometimes their lips would miss, kissing a chin or a nostril, but that'd make Neon laugh and the sound would reignite Fade's desire to kiss her, so she would.

When Neon sat back up, both agents were panting a bit, "I think D might also have to stand for delicious."

Fade grinned, "I thought it already did. Maybe it's also delectable? Decadent?"

"Seryoso!" Neon laughed and lightly punched the other agent's shoulder, "Imagine ruining the moment with your own humongous ego."

"Would you really have me any other way?" Fade asked, her tone playful.

"No. I guess not," Neon conceded, even though her face was still split into a smile.

Fade couldn't believe how fast her evening had shifted. One minute, she was working on her calendar, mundanely crossing off boxes with a black marker, the next, Neon was kissing her. Weirder still, Prowler had been eerily silent since leaving her room. Almost as if the manifestation was also aiding Nightmares' wishes. Or maybe it was just Nightmare themselves. Fade supposed having their approval was better than having their disapproval. Even now, with Neon's hands wandering up her midriff teasingly, nothing stirred in her chest. Her mind was still.

"I really did train all day," Neon said suddenly, breaking Fade's train of thought, "And I know it's really not that late, but I'm beat."

Fade flopped back down on the bed and closed her eyes, "Did you wanna stay here?"

"I should probably shower in my own room," Neon admitted, climbing off of Fade and putting her shoes on, "Raincheck?"

"Absolutely. Meet me for lunch?"

"Like you could stop me," Neon replied happily, tapping the tip of her shoe against the floor.

Fade was watching her leave when the door opening reminded her of the forgotten text, "Wait, Neon!"

"What's up?"

"You never told me what your text said," Fade remarked, sitting up so she could actually see the other agent.

Neon just laughed, "Why don't you just look silly."

Then she was gone. Fade scrambled to find her phone in the sheets, since it definitely fell out when Neon tackled her earlier. Once she found it, the screen lit up and Neon's text was right there, displayed on the front.

"It's hard to forget anything when it comes to you."