#sombtember25

[somber-nation]

SOMBTEMBER: FIRSTS

Their first date. Supposed to be a secret. Unfortunately their friends are all nosy!

[juduseye]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/71320961

Written for Day 4: Injury of Sombtember

@somber-nation

Super rare fluff and humor !

[thesirenarcher]

Short angsty story for Day 4 of Sombtember!

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[somber-nation]

SOMBTEMBER: Fantasy

May I have your name?

A quicker sketch today, I didn’t have a lot of time so I freestyled their designs. I imagine Sova is some kind of harpy or avian and Chamber is of course a fairy

[somber-nation]

SOMBTEMBER: Pining

Chamber had always been an enigma to Sova.

Appearing at exactly the right time with the key to interdimensional travel in his hand? Sova could accept.

Suspiciously clean records that left even Cypher squinting in confusion? Sova could accept.

But god, the veneer of faux transparency the man wore like a shield? Sova could not accept.

Chamber did not just lie. He lied about lying. A double lie. A lie-ception. He carried himself like an open book but when someone tried to read him, they ended up with blank pages. Or worse, spilling some secret of their own. Sova couldn't stand it. Neither could any of the other agents, it seemed.

Which left Chamber…alone.

Sova…could not accept that.

He did not like the man much, but that didn't mean he had to treat him any differently. So, Sova persisted despite his misgivings. He invited Chamber to movie nights (declined), to eat lunch with the team (declined), to Skye’s woodcarving class (declined). No matter how many times Chamber tried to brush him off, Sova persisted. It was a matter of principle now. Finally, finally, Chamber accepted to meet him at the range for a friendly competition.

It was…enlightening, to say the least. They had started off rather awkwardly, Chamber was his usual professional self and Sova was more casual, attempting to broach the layers of ice Chamber kept between himself and the rest of the world. As they went through rounds of shooting and resetting, Sova watched the most miraculous thing. Like a flower, Chamber began to bloom. At first it was just a light smile on his face after a good shot, then a chuckle when he stole one of Sova’s kills (Sova took one back from him quite shortly, to which he huffed), and eventually he gave an elated “Bien joué, Sova!” when Sova managed to kill five bots with the same arrow.

He was actually kind of nice, and for once it didn't feel like he was trying to get anything out of Sova. When they were done, Chamber was practically beaming ear-to-ear as he spun Headhunter around in his hand. He looked at Sova and the look on his face stopped the hunter in his tracks. He looked so human. Sova couldn't remember for the life of him why he'd disliked this man.

“Merci, Sova, I had fun. We should do this again sometime, oui? Maybe next time you will win,” Chamber said, his hand patting Sova’s shoulder and bringing him out of his stupor.

Sova huffed dryly and gave Chamber a smile, “Fine. Next time.”

Next time. Next time. The words felt like bubbles in Sova’s stomach and he couldn't place why. It felt the same as defusing a spike at the last second, as good as a successful hunt after days of tracking. Why Chamber of all people caused him to react like this, he didn't know.

He had next time to figure it out.

[somber-nation]

SOMBTEMBER EVENT

Hello sombreros! I am pleased to announce a week of Somber for this month. This shall be a national holiday, so take heed and celebrate accordingly!

The dates and prompts are as follows:

Sunday 21 - Pining

Monday 22 - Firsts

Tuesday 23 - Fantasy

Wednesday 24 - Injury

Thursday 25 - Mission

Friday 26 - Scars

Saturday 27 - Dancing

All forms of art, craft, and writing are acceptable! If you want to participate, please tag as #sombtember25

Don't worry if you're late or only want to do one of the prompts. There is no prize other than glory and no deadline other than flatlines!

[somber-nation]

SOMBTEMBER: Injury

CW: blood, major character death

Fanart for Vouloir, C'est Pouvoir by @juduseye

It’s okay he gets better. Go read it.

[somber-nation]

SOMBTEMBER: Scars

Waking up next to Chamber on a lazy morning was a new experience for Sova, but one he found he enjoyed immensely. The gunsmith was actually sleeping in for once, curled up underneath Sova's favourite quilt with a frankly adorable expression. Sova watched him with a loving gaze, content to lay there forever, until Chamber's eyes fluttered subtly and then opened, soft brown irises glancing around before landing on Sova. The hunter did not miss the way his pupils dilated upon seeing him.

"Good morning, ma vie," Chamber greeted. His voice was rough and soft all at the same time and Sova felt an overwhelming urge to kiss him, but he refrained for now. Chamber's eyes traced his face and lingered on a particular spot. It took a moment for Sova to realize, but he remembered suddenly that he wasn't wearing his prosthetic. He'd taken it out after Chamber had fallen asleep. He swiftly covered his left eye with his palm and sat up, shedding the warmth of the covers as he turned away from Chamber.

"Ah, I did not think to--that must be frightening. Give me a moment."

Chamber's hand slid around his wrist, pulling his hand away from his eye and his attention back towards him. "I'm not frightened."

Sova tilted his head forwards, a few strands of blond hair falling in front of his face, and Chamber reached up to brush them away. His hand cupped the hunter's cheek. He traced the nearest leg of the X-shaped scar that marked Sova with a reverent thumb. Sova shuddered lightly and Chamber stopped, concern in his expression.

"Does that hurt?"

"No. It is just...nobody has wanted to touch there before." Sova said, leaning into the comfort of Chamber's palm.

Chamber hummed and continued to gently caress the skin around the empty socket, careful not to pull at the thin membrane of his vestigal eyelid. Within the cavern he could see mechanical bits interacting with scarred tissue, the spot where Sova's beautiful blue eye would sit. His other eye was brown and no less beautiful, and it watched Chamber with a quiet sort of anxiety.

"The mechanics, how do they work?" Chamber broke the science with his curiosity, sitting up in bed to get a better look.

Sova laughed. His boyfriend was predictable in his fascinations. "You'd have to ask Cypher for the specifics. I know the metal in my eye connects to what remains of my optic nerve, and the prosthetic connects to that."

"Hm, and does this hurt you?" Chamber said, gently tracing the ocular ridge with his index finger.

"No, but it feels strange." Sova chuckled softly. "You don't have to force yourself to like it, Vincent. I can put the eye back in."

Chamber frowned and stopped his movements, grabbing Sova's face with both of his hands. He had an intense look about him that Sova had only seen on the battlefield and when dealing with particularly frustrating problems in his armory. Sova could be tricked into believing there were flecks of gold glowing in those eyes. "Sasha Novikov. Mon couer. Mon ange. I like every part of you."

Sova's eye blinked a few times and he looked away, his face heating up underneath Chamber's fingertips. "Even if I am not...whole?"

"You are whole," Chamber said firmly. His lips slid into a mischievous smirk. "A whole lot of man, if last night has taught me anything--"

"O-kay!" Sova interrupted, rolling his eyes despite the loving grin that had broken out. "I get it." He exhaled and pressed a kiss to Chamber's palm. "Thank you."