Recommended Music: This is me trying - Taylor Swift
The term energy transfer is used to describe the transfer of excitation from one body to another, the same or different, or between groups of the same molecule.
The Chamber body cautiously tries to perform an energy exchange with the Viper body. He just need to know if she will accept it or not.
They died.
He was electrocuted and she was stabbed in the head.
Well, it was an occupational hazard.
When Viper regained consciousness, she was in the Protocol ward, lying on a stretcher and wearing a hospital gown. The healing process was supposed to be over a while ago and they pulled her out of the resurrection chamber so she wouldn't be taking up space. She had a hell of a headache. The muscles tingled. And she had a horrible taste of spoiled bread in her mouth.
Viper sat on the bed dropping a groan, resting her head on the metal backrest. She took a deep breath, with the smell of infirmary hitting her.
- How are you feeling?
Viper could recognize that timbre anywhere. The calm and gentle intonation made him relax. The muscles stopped tingling.
She turned to him. Chamber was on the gurney next to hers, wearing the same hospital gown. He moved the uncomfortable tissue, as if he wanted to get it out of his body as soon as possible. Chamber was out of glasses, which meant he was practically blind. Viper wondered how he knew she was there.
- With a headache. – Her voice came out hoarse. She put her hands together on her lap, playing with her thumbs. - That Jett's reflexes were sharp as hell. - She said, grumpy.
- At least you saw where that came from. - Chamber grumbled, running his hand through his hair.
- I told you it's a bad idea to be in the same place all the time. - Viper spoke with a little contentment, knowing that he had ignored her advice to move tactically.
- But I can always hit at least one. - Chamber argued defensively. - How was I supposed to imagine that psycho Sova would shoot two arrows exactly where I was?
Viper breathed a sigh, squeezing her lips to contain her smile.
- The spike was disarmed? - She controlled her voice so she wouldn't get more fun than she intended.
-Yes... Killjoy used the turret for what it heard.
- Hell, I hate that little robot. - Viper wrinkled her nose, thinking of Killjoy's annoying robot. - My clone must have died trying to destroy that little thing.
- It's very irritating. The boombot too.
- Oh, I still have nightmares about that happy little face...
-Serious? I thought you were the only one. Usually I dream that there's an army of those little things trying to break into my apartment and blow me up in little pieces. - Chamber spoke with fun and almost, almost, made Viper let out a laugh.
They let the silence flood the infirmary. It was light and comfortable. They heard the base moving in the distance. That postmortem moment between them seemed soft, contrasting with the tension of the plane.
-Can we...? - Viper turned to Chamber, waiting for him to speak. His face was facing her, his eyelids almost closing as he tried to see something.
Viper controlled herself so as not to laugh at his face, while also wanting to yell at him for everything that he put her through. She took a deep breath, lifting one of her shoulders.
- Now?
- You want to wait for us to die again? - Your speech was a mixture of humor and nervousness. Chamber snapped his tongue, scratching his eye. - This could be the last time... And... I don't want to wait to find out if it's going to be or not...
Viper wet her lips, thinking that, unfortunately, Chamber was right. They could die on the next mission. It wasn't worth rooting for being resurrected once again to try to solve their issues. Every opportunity, every moment, could be the last.
- Ok… - She spoke without really wanting to face what was to come. She pressed her hands tight in her lap, controlling herself so as not to cross her arms. The scientist sniffed, thinking that more than one last moment, that was a decisive action.
- Ok… - He repeated and bit his lips before he spoke. - I... Why didn't you go on the test of the new projectiles?
Viper raised her eyebrows, surprised that he touched on this subject. She reflected for a moment, recalling when he had spoken to her that he would take the test. Three days ago, when his intonation was that of an ice cube and made her respond in the same way.
- I thought you didn't want me around. - She spoke candidly, remembering how sore her heart was by the way he spoke that day. - So I didn't stay around...
Chamber let out the air, wetting his lips.
- I never said that.
- The way you said it, it looked like. - The words came out quickly, as if her heart wanted to let go of everything that hurt her. - It looks like you... Push me away. - Viper had an ironic laugh. - By the heavens... It even looks like me. - She sniffed, looking the other way, where a curtain was parting her from the other area of the infirmary. She kept analyzing the balls that decorated the fabric. Viper swallowed dry and squeezed her hands. She wasn't used to it at all. - I don't want you to... Be like me... Drowned at work and driving everyone away... I... I know what it's like. And And... Oh, shit. - Viper gave up, hugging herself.
This was the first time she had given a way to express her feelings to anyone. It was weird, embarrassing and... Okay, she was feeling a little lighter, but that didn't mean she didn't want to get in a hole for saying all that out loud.
Viper's arms were hurting by the force with which she held them, her nails stuck in the flesh. She heard Chamber's stretcher creaking and turned around, watching him. Of all the feelings that invaded her, the last one Viper expected to hit her was fun. Since it wasn't every day that she saw Chamber with his arms stretched out like a blind man, trying to reach her. And he was totally lost.
- Can you ou merde! - He slammed his little finger on the corner of one of the tables with medical devices between them, making a grimace. - Why did this have to happen now? - He whimpered, groping the table, trying to locate himself.
Viper let go of the air with a smile, putting her hand on her face afterwards. She shook her head and leaned over the stretcher, holding his wrist.
- This way. - She guided him around the table, helping him get close to her. Viper gave him space to lean on the gurney, moving away a little. - Ready. Better, blind guy? - She raised an eyebrow, with a debauched smile playing on her lips. - Next time I'm going to get you a cane, too.
-Wow!. How funny she is. Ha ha. - He spoke ironically, his face turned toward her. Chamber narrowed his eyes a little. - I don't see you yet.
- No wonder why. - She rolled her eyes squeezing her lips a little to contain another smile.
- Can I be closer?
Viper looked at him for a few seconds, thinking about the proposal. She knew that the closeness Chamber spoke of was enough for her to see that his brown eyes were honey-like. That his nose was a little crooked to the left and that his lips were inches away from hers.
It was the proximity of a kiss.
Viper missed when they got close like that every day.
She decided it was time to kill the many longings she felt.
- Come here. - She touched his arm, pulling him a little.
Chamber climbed on the gurney, groping until he lay on his side. Viper lay on the stretcher facing him, feeling his breath against her skin and his smell instilling her lungs. That colony won't come out even after he dies. Viper was grateful for the good quality of the fragrance that she always liked.
- Better? - She whispered reluctantly, as if to tell a secret to someone special.
-A little. - He responded in the same way, struggling to focus his gaze on her. With his fingertips, he put a lock of her hair behind her ear. The soft touch like a feather was sweet enough for Viper to feel her cheeks warming. She scolded herself for the automatic response of her body. Chamber took a deep breath, pushing his hand away from her and Viper struggled not to hold him to keep him close. - I... I'm sorry I had a fight with you. - His voice transuded his repentance and pain amid the slurred words, each uttered with difficulty. Taking down his pride was harder than it seemed, but, somehow, Chamber managed to keep going. - You tried to do something for me that I didn't even realize I needed and... I was so stressed that I discounted on… Everything I said... Sabine... I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that. - Chamber's eyes trembled, as if he wanted to look away, but he didn't. His nose was as red as ever. - Those days you've been away... I think hell must look like what I felt... I don't want to push you away… And I don’t want you stay away from me...
Chamber gave up, looking away. Viper watched him for a few seconds, feeling her heart inflate by that man in front of her like never before. Her remorse dissipated much faster than she expected, giving way to the simple and pure love she felt for him. Looking at his resigned feature after giving that clumsy statement, Viper knew that she didn't want to walk away from Chamber either. On the contrary, she wanted to be close to him. As close as their atoms and the space between them allowed.
She took her hand to his face, stroking his soft cheek with her thumb, feeling that familiar electricity go through her as always when she felt glued to him. He held her hand in his face, closing his eyes. They entered a contemplative silence, digesting everything they just said.
- That's... Weird, huh? - Viper commented, resting her head on her arm.
- Too much weird. - Chamber nodded.
- We can't fight anymore. I don't want to repeat that. - Viper swallowed in dry, wetting her lips.
- Me neither. - Chamber denied it with his head, pulling her hand a little and kissing her wrist.
Viper gave a slight smile and approached him more, supporting her forehead on his, closing her eyes.
- I’m sorry for ruining your kitchen - She muttered, shrugging her shoulders a little as she remembers the stated she left his kitchen.
Chamber gave a corner smile, pressing her hand.
- It's over... I... I can teach you how to make food... We can try again.
Viper let go of the air, thinking of sending a "not in this lifetime" to his proposal.
But giving up trying was never her style.
- Of course we can... - She muttered, passing her arms around him, hugging him affectionately. She listened to his heartbeat and she enjoyed his breath against her, until she remembered something. - Actually... - She tilted her head back, looking at his face. - I think we should do something else first.
As Viper opened a mismatched smile, Chamber made a confused face, with no idea what she was talking about.
The Toulouse coach snatches us from the abyss, and you are this abyss, our beautiful darlings! ... We are returning to society, to duty and order ... We are sacrificing ourselves. Mourn us quickly, replace us rapidly. If this letter tears your heart, tear it apart. Adieu.
