Stand by me - Part 2
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Part 2
Recommended Music: Only You (And You Alone) - The Platters
Sova didn't take long to return to the room, carrying a tray. He had a big smile plastered on his face, which made Sage smile too.
- So? What exactly did you gain from this game? - She watched him sit down in front of her, placing the tray on the bed.
Sova had heated up a Dan dan mian of two days ago. Sage didn't even know there was any leftovers. Sage's stomach growled and she wondered how she'd survived a whole day without eating.
- Nothing. - He shrugged, pushing the tray towards her. - Just one title after 59 years with nothing.
Sage raised her eyebrows at Sova before clasping her hands in front of her face and thanking for the food.
- That's... Plenty of time. - She commented, picking up the chopsticks and starting to eat. She sighed in pleasure. The noodles got a better taste out over time, getting much more flavorful. - And that's great. - She looked at Sova, smiling.
- Abstinence is a great seasoning. - Sova returned the smile, taking a cup of tea from the tray. - I was so used to losing... - Sova gave a silly smile, before taking a small pill from the tray and putting it in his mouth. He swallowed the pill, drinking the tea thoughtfully. - I wish I had gone to see it in the stadium... But even so, it was good.
Sage sucked on some of the noodles, looking at his beloved. He looked so happy for his team of losers to win. She tilted her head to the side, smiling too.
- Why cheer for a team that always loses?
Sova looked at Sage raising an eyebrow.
- Loyalty. Also, hope is the last to die.
Sage raised an eyebrow at him too. She thought it was a pretty silly excuse, considering that the team had lost for 59 years. But she didn't want to spoil his happiness. It was the first time he had seen his team win a title in his life after all.
- Fine. - She shrugged, picking up her cup of tea from the tray. As expected, the chamomile tea wasn't ideal, like she made it. However, she drank it anyway.
- I even remember the first game I went to. My dedushka took me. - Sova smiled sideways, looking at his tea. - We lost 5-0. - He shrugged, drinking.
- Ouch. - Sage shook her head. - I would have changed teams for cheering
- Why? If our crowd was more fun? - Sova smiled at Sage. He lay on his side on the bed, resting his head on his hand. He held the cup by the handle, looking to Sage. - Also, we almost scored a goal. Almost! I was on my dedushka's shoulders and when the center forward kicked that ball, after dribbling around like a dancer, I pulled my dedushka's hair so much that it ripped a little. I don't know if he yelled for it or why the ball hit the post.
Sage laughed, looking at Sova. He was practically glowing with happiness, so handsome talking about what he loved that she wished he would never stop.
- Sad. - She took some more noodles, eating.
- It happens. - He sighed, sipping his tea. - He said he did that with my father... I wish they were here... - He murmured, with a slight smile.
Sage tilted her head, noting the wistful look on his face at the memory.
- Tell me about them? - She asked, knowing how much Sova loved talking about his family.
- Ah... My babushka said that I am the complete opposite of my father and the perfect copy of my dedushka. My face is the same as his. - Sova smiled slightly. - She said that my father was very quiet and shy. Besides definitely not liking human contact.
- Really? - She raised her eyebrows in surprise as she ate her pasta.
Sova nodded, pursing his lips a little.
- But my dedushka said he was just like me in games. He was staring at the TV, missing nothing and celebrating with everyone. He said it was like having him back... - Sova shook his head, giving a slight smile. Until he gave a light laugh. - Ah, dedushka was so fun! He would have cried in that match for sure! And my babushka would be ashamed because of him.
Sage shook her head slightly, understanding Sova's grandmother. She was ashamed of her boyfriend's football crises.
- They look nice... - She commented cautiously, drinking some tea. - I'd like... To have met them...
- Yeah... - Sova smiled, amused. - You can always go meet my babushka. She's still alive. Different from them. - Sova raised an eyebrow, drinking the rest of his tea.
Sage rolled her eyes. Sova had been wanting to introduce her to his grandmother for a long time. But Sage said she still thought it was too early for that.
- One day. - It was the answer she always gave, stirring the noodles.
- Uhm… - He grumbled, shaking his head slowly, as if making it clear that he would return to that subject later. He pointed to a small pill on the tray that Sage hadn't noticed. - To your head. Don't forget to take it.
Sage nodded at Sova, putting the medicine in her mouth. It was weird having to take that. It always tasted bad and went down scratching, no matter how small. Sage wanted one of her regenerative orbs instead.
- It's awful…- She muttered, bringing the bowl to her lips, drinking the remaining broth from the noodles.
- You're picky. - Sova sat down on the bed again, placing his cup on the tray. - Did you pass those face stuff?
Sage set the bowl down, shaking her head. Her cheeks were full with broth, with a strand of noodles escaping her lips. Sova felt like laughing at her state, looking like a chipmunk.
- Want me to put it on you?
Sage swallowed it all in one go, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
- You don't know nothing about it…- She took the teacup, drinking the rest of the contents.
- You couldn't be more right. - Sova waited for her to put the cup back on the tray and took it, leaving the room. - Good thing you're here, isn't it?
Sage gave an amused smile, leaning back against the pillows on the bed. She followed Sova back to the bedroom and went into her bathroom with her eyes. Sage flinched a few times, hearing the sound of something falling and being pulled hard. She told herself she wasn't going to worry about what he was doing. Sova didn't take long to get back to her, carrying Sage's entire drawer of skincare products. She shook her head, watching him sit beside her on the bed, placing the drawer between them.
- I hope you know how to put this in the right place. - She rummaged in the drawer, pulling out an array of vials, tubes, and jars.
- Of course I know how to put it in. - Sova made an indignant face, but blinked. - How do you remember all this?
Sage shrugged, placing the products on Sova's lap.
- It's quite simple actually. - She pointed to the packages, indicating each one. - This is the tonic, this is the essence, this is the serum. This one goes under the eyes. This is the moisturizer, it goes all over the face.
Sova looked at the products and then Sage, raising an eyebrow.
- You don't expect me to remember all that, do you?
Sage clicked her tongue, taking the tonic and putting it in his hand.
- This one first.
Sova nodded, putting the product in his hand.
- Come here.- He gestured for her to come closer.
Sage closed her eyes, lifting her face a little for Sova to rub the product into her skin. She smirked, wrinkling her nose a little.
- What? - Sova said, massaging her cheek.
"I'm just happy because I'm the luckiest woman in the world to have an amazing man like you with me."
That's what she thought.
- It's cold. - That's what she said.
Sova smiled, nodding slowly.
- How was your day?
Sage sighed, letting her shoulders sag. She didn't want to talk about the less-than-pleasant results of the radiant research, and she didn't have much to say about the reports. The mission had been the best and worst point of the day.
-I did... An ace…- She whispered, opening her eyes when Sova took his hand away.
If anyone else said that, it would be cause for celebration. Taking down five enemies alone was an admirable feat for Valorant agents and Sova wanted to congratulate his girlfriend for being so skilled. However, Sova knew that Sage took no pleasure in killing. She believed her gifts were given to heal and protect, but she was forced to use them for destruction. And, by the way, she did it very well. Sova even thought she was better than him in that regard. It made her feel guilty.
In short, making an ace for Sage wasn't cool.
And Sova admired her even more for that.
- Did you? - He put the package in the drawer, looking at Sage. - How was it?
Sage passed a package to Sova, playing with a tube in her hands. She waited for him to start smearing the new product on her face before she spoke.
- I found the first enemy... In the back. It was a Chamber, he was distracted, so I took the knife and... - Sage made a slashing gesture towards her neck, making a little noise that should have resembled a stab with a knife. Sova let out a breath, shaking his head.
- Sneaky. And using my Karambit isn't it? - He raised an eyebrow at her, pinching her nose a little.
Sage gave a slight smile.
- It got a really good grip… - She murmured, handing him the tube.
- Of course. I chose it. - He gave a slight smile. - Keep going. - He opened the tube, putting the next product on her face.
- Umm... Then I took his gun. A Stinger.
- Ew. - Sova grimaced.
- I know... But it was with her that I took down the enemy with a Phantom.
- Umm… - Sova shook his head, satisfied. - A weapon of a decent being.
- Yeah... - Sage nodded and took a pot, giving it to Sova. - This one is under the eyes. Spread with quick pats. - Sage looked up as Sova took some of the cream with his index finger. He tapped Sage under the eye, then tapped several times. - Right... - She gave a light laugh. - Are you good at it.
- In the past life I was a Chinese woman. - He smiled at Sage, dabbing the cream under her other eye.
Sage gave another laugh. Sova has been trying to guess what he was previously since Sage said she was a cat in her past life. The day before, after beating Sage at mahjong, he said he was a psychic strategist.
- Is that why we get along so well?
- Yeep. - Sova nodded, smiling. He backed away from her a little, placing the jar in the drawer.
- It makes sense. - She took a package, giving it to Sova. - This is the last one.
- Finally. - He murmured, opening that package and starting to apply the cream on her skin. - And then?
- Ah… - Sage remembered to tell the rest of the story, thinking. - There was an Operator guy... But he had terrible aim. I knocked him down after he tried to shoot me. Then I got his Operator real quick. - Sova smiled, finishing the product on her face, putting the package in the drawer.
- Did you do as I taught you?
Sage nodded, taking Sova's hand.
- Find a good and safe angle. Aim calmly and shoot. - Sage gave Sova a shy smile, stroking his hand with her thumb. - I... Killed... The last two like this...
Sage said that without a shred of pride, more like she was embarrassed. Sova wanted to be more like that. He approached her, kissing her cheek.
- My girl... - He murmured, smelling the products on her face. - Wow, what a good smell. - Sova approached her, sniffing her face. - Makes me want to eat. - He kissed her cheek several times, nibbling lightly.
Sage chuckled, pulling away from him a little.
- Silly. - She rubbed one of her eyes, with a hint of a smile.
Sova watched her for a few seconds, just enjoying her smile. He took the drawer, getting up.
- I'll be right back.
Sage watched her boyfriend walk away and sighed, picking up the bedspread. She wrapped herself in the blanket, lying comfortably there. She felt her muscles relax slowly, her body growing heavy. But her mind had vehemently refused to relax. Heavens, she just wanted to rest. What did it take for her to be able to sleep?
The mattress sank behind her, with Sova crawling under the covers. His muscular arms wrapped around her as he placed a kiss on the back of her neck. Sage's lips automatically formed a smile as she snuggled into that embrace. She was tiny compared to her boyfriend. Being surrounded by him gave her a warm, protective feeling.
- You know… - He murmured, running his hand by her body, down to her leg. - It doesn't make much sense to put all that on your face and nothing on the rest of your body... - Sova lifted the sweatshirt she was wearing, running his hand under it. - I can help you with that too if you want...
Sage was already feeling the sleep coming. Her eyes were heavy and even her tongue was slow to move.
- You can… - She whispered, holding his hand over the fabric. - Tomorrow... - She smiled, hearing his grunt behind her. She was almost asleep. So... It was what was missing. - Good night babe. - She wished that somehow he knew how grateful she was for everything he did and how happy she was to have him there.
Sova placed another kiss on the back of her neck, pressing her against him, feeling good about having someone to pamper.
- Good night, my life.
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Thank you for reading!
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