VALORANT: Stories

Snakeskin 001 (Viper x Killjoy)

Snakeskin 001

Snakes in the wild go through rough and coarse terrains that vastly assists them in shedding their skin. Every inch of land they slithered across, the more their old, worn skin gets tugged off by mother nature's touch. It's considered quite the process, yet it was also a natural occurrence. It was akin to an old mask being torn off, only to don a similar yet newer one.

In this case, it was an agent of the Protocol that had shed their affiliation with VALORANT.

True to her codename, like a snake, Viper's departure from the Protocol was as quiet as it could get. It's as if she slithered away from her affiliation with them. The agents were entirely clueless of what had happened, and by the time they realized that Viper wasn't present during the mandatory weekly meetings for the past two weeks, her laboratory was already cleared of any files, data or any form of research under her name.

All of them were gathered in the briefing room by both Brimstone and Sage, and while most were curious as to why the abrupt meeting was called, one operative in particular was already drawing speculations in their head.

Out of everyone in VALORANT, Killjoy was the last person anyone would think would have any opinions about Viper that would pass the professional level. The techie was on her way to the briefing room, her footsteps stuttering once when she passed by Viper's deserted laboratory.

Even when it was emptied and cleaned, no one had yet to make use of the space. Maybe Brimstone was still undecided on what they'll turn it into. Killjoy hoped it was for another reason, particularly one that involved the chemist returning to their organization.

Killjoy frowned at the sight of the vacant, sterile workspace, gaze lingering on the window overlooking everything before she shook her head and proceeded on her way. Not everyone took the time to make a detour at this part of headquarters, unlike Killjoy, who always tried finding excuses just to catch sight of the absent doctor.

At first, when she noticed how the personal lab was usually vacant, Killjoy figured Viper was just out on a long-term mission, or maybe even vacation. Yet when more days passed with her not acquiring even a glimpse of the raven-haired woman, Killjoy felt like her hope was a flower that was plucked from the soil and had begun to wilt. Most especially when she realized that little by little, everything seemed to disappear.

The purpose behind the abrupt assembly she was about to attend alongside the other agents seemed to become clearer and clearer the more she got close to her destination. Killjoy dreaded the moment she stepped through the doorway and took a seat at the long steel table. Some were discussing random topics between themselves, while there were a few that were asking one another if there were any possible urgent missions they would likely get sent off to handle.

Killjoy pursed her lips and looked over to the chair across her. Despite not having assigned chairs, there were already unspoken seat arrangements when the Protocol was formed. With her and Viper being a part of it from the beginning alongside Brimstone and Omen, it wasn't surprising that they sat in the same area at the table.

The frown the techie managed to mask nearly returned its visibility when Sage came into the room and occupied the seat Viper always took. It was such a small change. Like how someone moved a pencil from its place on someone's desk. But for Killjoy, it was a vast shift. She would spend times like this stealing glances of Viper, awkwardly snapping her gaze away whenever the chemist would reciprocate her stare.

It may seem silly and foolish on her part, but Killjoy couldn't bring herself to face the likely inevitable rejection from Viper if she ever dared to brave through her nerves and confess her crush to the woman herself. She figured the last thing she would want was for Viper to dismiss her feelings and claim that it's nothing more than a harmless and unserious infatuation.