After that, they didn't speak or even intersect with each other for several days. He kept his word and didn't bother her. She, in turn, didn't want to meet with him. Viper simply couldn't find the strenght to meet him again.
The first person who noticed this disagreement between them was Sage. The medic had seen these two together more than once and was glad that they were able to get along, given the difficult nature of Viper. Sometimes Sage even managed to talk with the chemist about their relationship, but it all ended with an excuse like “we're just comrades." But Viper rarely called someone her comrade, and Sage remembered that.
Now she see something like an ice wall appear between them. It was easy to notice, because Sage no longer saw them together in the morning on the balcony over a cup of coffee. They always woke up before everyone else and waited for the rest, enthusiastically talking about something.
Now the balcony was empty.
“Viper,” Sage said to the woman at the table. “How do you feel today?”
Viper turned her eyes to Sage, raising an eyebrow in surprise, and removed the cup from her lips.
“Um, okay. Why such questions?”
“Lately, you rarely leave the laboratory,” Sage turned to Sabine, leaving a cut of vegetables. “And you know that I always check for all the medicines.”
“I have a lot of work. And yes, I know about your responsibilities,” Viper took another sip of coffee. “Let's get to the point, I'm in a hurry.”
Sage went to the table, pulled out a chair and sat down next to Viper, leaning slightly towards her.
“First, the sedative disappeared somewhere, now the sleeping pills. Are you saying that you are all right? I don't think so.”
“Sage, I don’t want to talk about this.”
Viper hurriedly got up from the table, but the medic managed to grab her wrist and pull her back onto the chair.
“Please tell me a little about what's going on with you. The bags under your eyes really scare me, and you took sleeping pills last week. You shouldn't use it that often. And you know that I'm always ready to listen to you if there are any problems.”
They looked into each other's eyes for a long time. Sage, with her plaintive look, was as if begging Viper to say something. Sabine, in turn, could not determine whether the decision to share her problems with someone was right.
“Sage,” Viper sighed heavily. “Understand that you won't be able to help everyone.”
“But at least I'll try.”
It was clear that the chemist wouldn't be able to convince Sage, so Viper decided to give up this venture. Most likely, she will regret it in the future, but perhaps right now Sabine wouldn't hurt to speak out to someone.
“Well,” Sabine began uncertainly. “It seems that my conscience is beginning to wake up. And due to the fact that it woke up, I cannot sleep.”
A soft smile appeared on Sage's face.
“Don't even think to laugh, or I...” Viper threatened.
“No, no! I'm just glad to hear that,” The woman took Sabine's hands in hers. “What did you do?”
“Didn't watch my mouth,” Viper looked down guiltily. “Now I feel kind of lousy, and it's insanely annoying.”
Sage perfectly understood who exactly Viper was rude to, but didn't show her knowledge. For now, it's better to skip the details.
“You know, sleeping pills are unlikely to help with this,” Sage said and tilted her head a little to look in Viper's eyes. “But there’s another cure — try to apologize.”
“I'm not a child, Sage, I understand everything perfectly!”
“But you still haven't done it.”
There was a long pause, interrupted by Viper's heavy sigh. Her shoulders sagged limply.
“It's not so easy.”
“I know, but you need to find strength in yourself. Whoever this person is, he, like you, is waiting for your relationship to improve. You just need to take the first step, and trust me, he will definitely forgive you.”
Viper stared at the floor for a long time, lost in thought. Sage's words echoed in her head, making something glow inside her chest. Did she have a fever or was it ... hope?
“Enough, Sage,” Viper stood up and released her hands from the medic's palms. “I have to go to the laboratory.”
The woman pressed a button on the control panel and the door opened. Viper was already crossing the threshold, but suddenly froze. She turned her head slightly towards Sage.
“Thanks.”
There was a click of a closed door.
* * *
Things didn't go well. An excellent chemist made primitive mistakes in formulas and often dropped objects. Her hands were shaking, and her head was a complete mess. Viper hated this state of confusion. When another mistake pissed her off, Sabine grabbed one of the empty flasks and threw it against the wall. The fragments flew in different directions.
His cold and indifferent gaze, from which goosebumps ran down her spine, came back again and again in her memory. This made Viper feel helpless, stumped. She hadn't felt such weakness in a long time.
For the first time in her life, Viper wanted to see someone's smile so much. She wanted to talk again about their past mission, standing on the balcony. Wanted to feel his hand on her shoulder again as he praised everyone for their excellent work. Wanted to fall asleep in his mantle while they got home after a mission. She wanted everything to be the same again.
He seemed to live in her head. Thoughts about him awakened an incomprehensible feeling, like a poison burning a hole in her chest. Viper reached for the jar of pills, but suddenly stopped and pulled her hand back, realizing their uselessness. She covered her face with hands.
This cannot go on any longer.
