{Excerpt from Killjoy’s movie night recordings, Valorant database}
[00:32:11] >------|-----------------------<
Jett: Tell me, boys, would you feel okay if your girl calls her guy best friend to be her maid of honor?
Phoenix: You’re asking that because I will be your maid of honor, right?
Jett: Probably.
Chamber: Well… If the guy is my friend too, it’s fine… I guess.
Sova: Really?
Chamber: But I would make it clear she’s mine.
Jett: And you, ‘Ru?
Yoru: I would literally kill myself.
Beggin’ - Måneskin
- I don't trust him.
The phrase came from Sova, but it could easily have come from Viper.
They stood side by side in the base's hangar, waiting for Brimstone's clearance to depart on a mission. The Russian agent was eating a tuna sandwich and drinking a mate tea, while the American scientist nibbled on a strawberry cereal bar and a coffee.
- Me neither.
- And he's trying to manipulate everyone.
They both watched Chamber chat animatedly with Jett and Phoenix. The duelists laughed at something he said. Viper shook her head.
- They're not that stupid. They just want to see if they can get invited to his next party.
Sova wrinkled his nose, sipping his tea.
- They are not... Self-serving.
- Everyone's self-serving. Everyone wants something from someone. - Viper said grumpily, eating the rest of her bar and crushing the wrapper.
The Russian turned to the other, tilting his head.
- Why not... friendship?
Viper's lips trembled and she almost smiled at the Russian's naiveté.
Viper had to press her lips together, stifling a laugh. She watched as Sova released his hair to tie it back. The gesture only confirmed his connection with the princess with the long blonde locks. She thought he might have been better suited to another princess, she just couldn't remember which one.
- You looks like the one that sings.
- All of them sing, Viper.
- The snow one. Which one is it? - Viper thought for a moment, narrowing her eyes in concentration.
- Elsa? - Sova raised an eyebrow, finishing tying his hair.
- I think so. Is that the one with ice powers?
- For heaven's sake, that thing haunts me. - Sova said with such spontaneous indignation that Viper clapped a hand over her mouth, stifling a laugh. - It's a good thing you don't remember her. I think I'll explode if I hear that damned song one more time.
Viper would have agreed that she also hated the catchy children's song that resurfaced from time to time until Chamber approached. The scientist lifted her chin slightly when he arrived, unconsciously adopting a passive-aggressive stance.
- Brimstone has cleared our exit. We can leave. - He smiled at Viper, but turned back to Sova. - Monsieur Sova, ça va? - Chamber smiled slightly at his own pun, while the Russian gave only a polite smile. - I wanted to ask if I could take your place as rearguard sniper. As a sentinel, it's better if I keep an eye on our backs.
If Sova and Viper could read each other's minds, they would know they had the same thought.
"No way I am letting this faker watch my back"
- I can cover our backs. It's better for me.
Chamber cocked his head in surprise.
- Have you had time to study the Everett-Linde structure?
Viper turned to Sova, raising an eyebrow. She knew very well that the Russian hated Fracture, the radianite theft hotspot in New Mexico. He'd had to do the most complicated calculations of his life to land reconning arrows there.
- I can improvise. - Sova shrugged, giving a smirk. - We're snipers, aren't we? We know how to do adapt.
The Frenchman smiled back, clasping his hands behind his back. Viper watched the two of them, sipping the rest of her coffee, suddenly interested in the conversation.
- Of course. I'd love to hear about your sniper exploits. Everyone has a good story to tell, oui?
- Da. - Sova nodded, looking Chamber up and down quickly. Viper was surprised by the amount of venom she saw there, almost feeling proud. - What's your record?
- 3000 yards.
- Oh really? - Sova raised his eyebrows, shaking his head slowly. - Mine was 3150.
Chamber whistled, putting a hand on his hip.
- Impressionnant. Where?
- Siberia. In the winter. Thermal vision only but… Blizzards make everything more difficult.
The Frenchman nodded slowly while the Russian gave an amused smile.
- Bien. Legally, I can't say where mine went or what the target was, but let's just say the shot was cinematic. Many say it was a setup.
Sova's smile faltered, but he held it. Viper looked between the two, suddenly curious to know the details of the sniper contest.
- And... Why would that be? - Viper asked unpretentiously.
- Ah mademoiselle. - Chamber turned to her, and the scientist scowled. Damn, she'd taken the bait. - There are a lot of shootings these days that are said to be a setup. Because of the distance, the angle. It could be that, hypothetically, an unrecognized individual could have been hit by a projectile from an experimental long-range weapon that came out of a tiny hole in the wall. If the shooter, who certainly didn't exist, had any way of knowing where the target was, it would only have been from a security camera with a four-second delay.
Viper shook her head dismissively. She didn't believe a word he said.
- It's a hypothetical situation.
- Just hypotheses. - Chamber shrugged, turning and heading toward the jet. - Shall we get in?
Sova's smile faded, grimacing as Chamber walked away. Viper turned to the other, giving him a knowing look.
- Don't let him get into your head.
The Russian agent glanced at her sideways, walking toward the jet.
- My shots are stealthy. He doesn't impress me.
The American rolled her eyes, getting on the jet. She felt like the little dispute that had started there would continue for a while.
﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍
The flight to New Mexico was uneventful because Viper had brought her AirPods. She was listening to a podcast about the economic implications of interdimensional accidents, like the ones in Venice and New Mexico. If she'd forgotten her earbuds, she would have collapsed in despair by listening to Chamber, Jett, and Phoenix babble. They simply wouldn't shut up, and their conversations would have made her precious neurons melt.
Before engaging in combat, the agents drew their weapons. Jett, Phoenix, and Viper had Vandals, while Sova grabbed an Operator. The Russian looked at Chamber, placing his shield on himself.
- Aren't you going to get a gun, Chamber?
- Ouh… - Chamber made a funny face, looking disdainfully at Sova's heavy Operator. - Those weapons are good, but…- He ran his hand over his tattoos, equipping himself with a gold precision weapon. - I prefer mine, merci.
- Wow, Chamber! - Phoenix exclaimed, practically drooling over Chamber's gun. - That's pure art! Get me one of those!
Chamber chuckled, resting the gun on his shoulder. Viper was more impressed by how he had a weapon that had apparently been designed to aesthetically match his style. She could never underestimate Chamber's vanity.
- Tour de Force is unique. And you couldn't afford it.
- Oh come on, bruv! - Phoenix pouted, crossing his arms.
Sova, for his part, couldn't help but let the admiration trespass through his eyes. Tour de Force seemed lighter than an Operator, and it had a beautiful design. The Russian agent cleared his throat, running a hand through his hair.
- Yes. It looks like a good weapon. Is the powerforce good?
Chamber turned to Sova, smiling smugly.
- The best.
- Really? It looks smaller than an Operator's. - The Russian agent adjusted the gun in his hands, raising an eyebrow at Chamber. The Frenchman raised an eyebrow back, never taking his eyes off the other agent.
- I can assure you that it has the ideal size.
Jett and Viper looked at each other, feeling more complicit than ever in their shared feelings of embarrassment. The male ego battle had been amusing earlier. Now I was just being annoying.
- Alright, kids. - Viper intervened, stepping in front of them with Jett. - Can you focus on the mission? We already know who has the biggest gun.
As the female agents exited the jet and entered the base, the other three agents frowned. They looked at each other for a moment, silently deciding to continue their discussion later.
- Even if you insist on staying back… - Chamber commented, taking a card. - I'll leave something here, oui?
- Just finish the mission. - Sova practically grumbled, as Chamber placed a trap and a portal at the defending base.
Phoenix walked past the two, heading to one of the spike's deployment points.
- My gun is big...
- Focus on the mission, Phoenix. - Sova cut him off, aiming with the Operator.
It didn't take long for the attackers to advance in full force. Although Jett and Phoenix did their job well and took down at least one enemy each, they were ultimately defeated.
Viper warned of attackers entering point B, but she was trapped in one of the corridors, exchanging fire with a version of herself. Sova chose a good angle to target the attackers. However, Chamber, who was guarding point A, had his trap sprung. He teleported and shot a Yoru clone before it could shoot Sova in the back.
The Russian agent heard the shot and turned suddenly, already aiming at Chamber. He lowered his gun when he saw him, quickly glancing at the clone's body.
The men nodded to each other and resumed their mission, both of them marking opposite sides of the deployment point. Chamber saw an attacking clone of Skye advance into the courtyard, heading toward Viper. He fired at her, taking her down before she could hit Viper in any way.
- Damn. The other one went to A. - Viper spoke into the comms, clearly frustrated.
Chamber, with a snap of his fingers, teleported back to point A. He positioned himself in a favorable spot, and when the other Viper appeared, he shot her.
The French agent sighed, walking towards her.
- Je suis desolée, mademoiselle. - He pouted, saddened by having to kill an alternate Viper. He retracted the Tour de Force and bent down, picking up the spike. He heard Sova approach and turned to him, handing him the spike. - You take Phoenix and Jett's bodies to put in the jet. - The Frenchman gave a provocative smile. - I told you she was the best gun.
Sova looked at the other with disdain, putting the spike under his arm.
- Chamber, you are a good shot. But when you can bounce your bullets off the wall, then I'll be impressed.
The Frenchman's smile widened, likely accepting this as a challenge. He turned on his heel, watching Viper approach them.
- Now you both know you can trust your rearguard à moi. - He said with amusement, winking at her. - I trusted you with mine, non?
He walked past them both, heading for the jet. Viper grimaced, staying close to Sova.
- Self-centered.
- Irritating.
They spoke at the same time, overlapping each other's words. They exchanged a knowing look, knowing that they didn't want to like that Frenchman.
🎐Writer's Note: The following stories are pure work of fiction and not part of the original story, feel free to ask me anything about the story or the characters . These stories were made up by me and a friend of mine from FB from role-playing, this story is rated MATURE. Minors are not allowed to read. Enjoy. ✨✨✨
