Viper: The Official Remaster

Chapter 18: Sunsets and Cliffsides

Nøkk threw her bag over her shoulder and started toward the exit of the locker room. Her body screamed for a shower, but with the summer heat starting to blare, she'd work up a second sweat on her moderate jog home.

The solution was trivial, being to just walk, but she simply refused. Not when Ryker was so close. Her heartbeat jumped out of her chest when she spotted him in the lower seats. Besides, he'd seen her sweaty before. Spending time with the one she adored took priority over a leisure walk.

Shutting her locker and twisting the padlock that guarded the spare outfit she kept for convenience, Nøkk turned towards the exit, quietly slipping past both Thorn and Ace's bickering conversation and through the heavy locker room door.

The air-conditioned breeze of the lobby kissed the skin of her arms. She'd feel like she could move mountains after the coming shower. After that, she'd indulge herself with the one person that mattered, even if she'd have to endure the crappy food he'd elect to order.

Kali: Hey Nøkk.

Jaimini Shah's voice ripped Nøkk from her thoughts, forcing Nøkk to turn and face her smile. The founder of NIGHTHAVEN stood against the stone pillar with her phone in hand, her hair still in the same high pony while dressed in workout shorts and a tank top.

Nøkk: Kali. Another time.

She waved off Nøkk's remark, instead deciding to step forward and offer her hand.

Kali: You killed it today. About time you took a seat at the adult table. Nice job.

She took the handshake, Nøkk deciding to swallow her distaste as Kali turned back towards the gym.

Nøkk: Bitch.

Kali couldn't hear her whisper as Nøkk turned away, probably for the best. Ryker wouldn't have approved of the drama. Kali was easy to hate. NIGHTHAVEN tech rivaled a lot of what Rainbow had to offer, while the skills of Kali's unit could also keep in tempo. The theatricality of Rainbow operators leaving for Kali's company instead also created a brutal divide between Rainbow and her PMC.

Nøkk pushed forward, adopting a brisk stride down the sidewalk while failing to keep her thoughts at bay. Sweat salted her skin and her odor wasn't helping her either. Just another reason to shower. It'd improve her mood. Washing away her anger as well as the grime and filth her body accumulated gunning Kali into the ground twice in a row.

The way Kali smiled at him... The wink Ryker didn't pick up on. The audacity Kali had been able to show in three short seconds. Nøkk wanted a round three in combat. Just her and that smug, little tramp. She-

A car blared its horn, nearly sending Nøkk into a panic as she recollected herself a final time. Waving at the driver, she made it up her driveway and into her little home. Ryker's shoes had been discarded next to the door yet the house was quiet. Quite the stark contrast from the combative game and equally chaotic locker room she'd left twenty minutes prior.

Through the kitchen window, Nøkk saw Ryker leaning against the small deck overlooking their backyard with his phone pressed to his ear. His posture suggested he was relaxed, but it still wasn't enough to tempt a cute interference, romantic or not. Their intimate welcome could wait just a while longer.

Hopefully, he didn't have to use the bathroom in the next forty-five minutes.

Nøkk floated into their bedroom and grabbed a maroon pair of silk shorts and a button-down pajama shirt to match, both of which were still enveloped in a plastic wrap from when she'd purchased them. A part of her knew her spending money on sensual and vivid clothing was an overreaction, but to think Ryker simply didn't care about her missing face and shrouded name seemed like an impossibility.