So we know when Fade was first accepted to the protocol, other agents’ opinions were wildly different regarding her. Cypher saw what she could become and helped her in her initial stages in a new world, acting as a mentor. Jett was furiously against her joining the protocol, making sure it was known to Fade herself too. Most of the other young agents were reluctant about her too since even after she was captured, she made them all taste the Fear ™ so it was pretty natural that they all felt uneasy whenever she was around.
But there was a peculiar moment with one unlikely agent which helped them forge a special kind of a bond, a first for each in the protocol.
To get to know other agents without coming off as malicious - since she literally blackmailed them with all the information she gathered for weeks- she started to tap into the minds of agents as a way to read them further, so that she’ll have a easier time getting accepted among them without further animosity. She was aware it wasn’t entirely ethical, but come on, this is Fade we’re talking about, ends always justify the means.
On a pretty uneventful day, at a sleepless time late at night, Fade decided to wander through the halls of HQ. She was just walking, for mere hours, unaware of how many of them passed, with just what her next steps should be to get to him on her mind. She wasn’t even paying attention to where she is or where she’s heading, when all of a sudden, her thoughts went quiet. Complete silence. She stopped and looked around to see what she was up against but there was nothing within sight. She was in the hallway which doors leading to labs of some agents were located. At that moment she realized it wasn’t about her, someone else’s mind was craving to find an outlet, almost reaching to gush out, to ease the suffering, to escape from their prison.
As she reached out to peek through the bars, she saw a little girl crying at a corner, having to grow up too soon. Then the same girl, as a teenager this time, studying in a cozy environment, with light on her eyes, reflecting a bright future. Then as a young adult, already accomplished, but with a burning passion to do much more to help humankind. Fade was surprised as she was almost able to feel everything this girl was feeling. Next parts were blurry, much less clear, looked more like flashbacks of moments. Horrible ones. As visions faded away, the feelings started to get intense. She felt the pain of losing the ones who were the closest. Then the anger started to brew, for those who lied to the woman, to trick her into thinking she was working for a good cause, all the while manipulating her to help them find a way to do their evil deeds. The guilt that comes with it only fuelling the need for revenge. As the feelings grew in intensity, Fade was approaching her limit, coming on the verge of a breakdown. It was just too much, even for her, who tamed the Nightmare itself. Just as she turned around to go back to her quarters and forget all about this sorrowful experience, not to mention a much faulty breach of someone’s most intimate thoughts, she heard the matte glass door, now behind her, open wide.
She turned her head, so slowly as if the woman behind her could figure out there was an uninvited bystander in her mind 2 minutes ago, watching her deepest secrets, her darkest traumas. Fade’s eyes finally met with the woman’s. Awaiting for an ominous, blaming gaze, she saw those same deep green eyes in the visions, without the glare that used to be fueled by the ambition inside her. Instead of the infamous Viper who strikes terror to even the coldest of hearts, she saw that broken little girl named Sabine from the visions. Fade’s expression mellowed down as she saw the woman in her most vulnerable moment. Her eyes were so woeful, so watery that Fade could almost see herself in them. Her face was gloomy, tired from everything she had to went through in her life, but also from hiding behind a mask, suppressing every emotion she bottled inside her over the years. Fade approached her lightly, holding both her hands inside her own as tears started running down Sabine’s cheeks into her mask. “Stop” she said in a soft voice, “Just for today”. “Don’t be Viper.” as she slowly took her mask off. She wiped her tears, now running down to her chin “Don’t be the mask”. Sabine leaned on her shoulder, almost crumbling down. They spent almost an hour, leaning on each other on the ground in that fluorescent lit hallway.
Sabine is one of the most intelligent people in the Protocol, not to mention an authority figure. As soon as she saw Fade she knew that she knew in that exact moment. Maybe not through her Radiant powers as their reach wasn’t known at the time, but maybe she memorized a thing or two through her data breach of the Protocol a few months ago. Regardless, she was already in so much pain that moment, we all get those late night blues in which we reflect on our life, watch bitter slices of our past, see unpleasant outcomes from our future unfold. Seeing someone who knows already enough about them, in that moment, approaching her telling everything’s going to be okay, she felt that long-lost comfort, she really let the mask go that night. Even if it was for just a couple of hours.
The day after that, was just like every other day. Agents were running chores, doing their parts in the HQ per usual. This included Fade and Viper too. But from that night on, Sabine finally felt the comfort of having a shoulder to cry on, after a very long time. And Fade, made a friend for the first time in the Protocol. They were soldier and commander in the day, on the battlefield, but they were two friends, opening up to each other, talking about their feelings, or simply enjoying each other’s company by night.
*So i’m not entirely sure if this counts as hc or a fanfic story, but this was my first work as i just started using tumblr. if you made it this far it’d be amazing to hear your views, i hope you enjoyed it! ! ! ! !!!
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