AGENT SOLARIS // VALORANT x Male Reader

Chapter 4 // Rookie Hour (⭐️)

Use the map for reference 👍

(𝙸)

The dropship hummed steadily, that familiar low vibration working its way through your boots and into your bones. Conversation picked up little by little, filling the quiet like steam slowly building in a sealed room. Whatever tension hung in the air earlier had mostly thinned out, replaced by a cautious kind of ease. Not quite comfortable. Just... familiar enough.

You leaned back in your seat, helmet resting on your lap, eyes flicking from face to face.

"So, you're the guy whose clone blew me up?" Neon asked, snapping the silence like a live wire. Her voice carried that distinct cadence—fast, bright, Filipino. "Heard you had quite the entrance. Saving hostages and all."

You chuckled, lips curling. "You all saw that?"

"We all did," Jett added, grinning. There was something bright behind her eyes — genuine admiration. You've seen it before. But from someone like her who knows what it's like, it warmed your heart.

"Made the news. Twice. That's an achievement."

You shrugged, cool and measured. "Just did what I had to do. When you've been through what I have, you stop waiting around for someone else to save you."

Jamie let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Don't let him sell you the humble act. He's always been like this. Even back in that dump they called K-Block. We had to watch each other's backs or end up on the lab table."

"K-Block?" Jett blinked. "Those quarantine facilities for the early radiants?"

Jamie snorted. "Hah! Quarantine's the polite term. Place was a prison. I was stuck in a damn cell for a week after picking a fight with the some kid from my art school. Drugged me, sedated me, whatever — like I was a damn science project. Only time I saw daylight was when they were sticking me with needles."

He shuddered just thinking about it. "Left me with a phobia, no lie."

Jett spun a knife lazily between her fingers. "Can't say you ever mentioned that before."

Jamie's expression darkened for a moment, not in a bad way, but in a way that showed the pain he was hiding behind the mask of humor. "There's a lot of stuff you man don't know about me."

You jumped in, flashing Jamie a sideways smirk. "Let me explain — he picked a fight, handed the kids ass to him, and the guards made him an example. The kid he swung on? Six inches taller, by the way."

Jamie groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Worst week of my life... but hey, made me tougher. Nobody's getting in my head again. Lookin at you Jett."

She playfully scowled at him, while Neon spoke up.

"My parents told me horror stories about those places..." Neon's voice dipped, something softer curling beneath it.

You gave a short laugh — dry, bitter. "Whatever you've heard? It's true."

"At least you lived to tell about it," Neon said with a smirk, her tone lifting again, but you could tell she meant it.

You leaned forward. "Alright, let's back up. You said my clone blew you up?"

"Yeah. Sage said both arms and half my ribs were busted." She gestured to herself, casual. "Almost died."

"...Damn." You exhaled slowly. That settled heavy in your chest. "Guess he and I have more in common than I'd like."

Neon leaned in, eyes scanning your face like she was seeing you for the first time. "So, what all can you do? Aside from chucking explosive knives?"