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As the doors to her quarters hissed open, Viper flung her mask across the space in frustration, and sat herself down on the edge of the bed. It had been yet another day of tough laboratory work, with a little dinner party right after. Though it was far from enjoyable, as her fellow protocol members still addressed her by her real name.
Any time someone would utter the name “Sabine,” she would feel obligated to punch something. She hated her own name that much.
Despite that, it was never the case when Sage was the one saying it. Even though the two had their differences in the past, Viper could feel herself grow closer to the healer. They would gradually start to spend more time together, to the point where the name “Sabine” had no terrible memories attached to it.
Yet it wasn’t Sage who said it at the gathering. Viper didn’t feel “healed” at the sound of her own name this time around, which resulted in her storming off to her room.
Little did she know that Sage had decided to excuse herself from the party, and was now inviting herself into Viper’s quarters. The controller looked up from the floor, and took note of the bear suit that the sentinel was wearing. She figured that Sage must’ve made a quick stop at her own quarters for the costume.
“What do you want?” Viper asked in a cold tone.
Sage gestured for Viper to wait as she raised the hood of the costume over her own head and zipped it up. Now Sage looked like a fake bear.
With her arms outstretched, Sage started to approach Viper while bouncing from side to side.
Is she… dancing? What?... Before Viper could wrap her head around the scene in front of her, Sage dived in for a tight hug.
“BEAR HUG!” The sentinel screamed as she also started to tickle Viper. As serious a person as Viper was, she was also super ticklish. Not that anyone apart from Sage ever dared to find that out about her.
Viper repeatedly slapped against the costume, laughing uncontrollably and begging for Sage to stop. When it was finally over, Viper stared at the face of the bear as she caught her breath.
After one deep breath, and with minimal thinking, she spoke up.
“I love you.”
The bear froze for a good few seconds. Slowly, Sage pulled back the hood to reveal her shocked expression. Upon seeing her face, Viper’s eyes widened, and she quickly escaped from the embrace and walked quickly over to her dresser.
“You… you what?” Sage was completely caught off guard. She never thought Viper would say something so endearing.
“Nothing,” the controller replied.
“No, no, tell me, what did you just say?”
“I didn’t say anything!”
“Sabine-“
“I LOVE YOU!”
Now Sage’s eyes were widened, but Viper continued to speak.
“There, I said it, I love you!” She was absolutely losing it. “For the first time in all these years of experimentation and lab studies, I can’t explain why, but… I just know that I love you! You happy now, you stupid bear?”
Sage dived in for another hug, but this one felt more intimate to Viper. She could feel the warmth that Sage wholeheartedly intended to share, and she did nothing to stop it. Viper melted into the embrace.
“I love you too, Sabine.”
“But I have to ask,” Viper said as she pulled away while still in the healer’s arms. “Did you really need to use the costume?”
“I figured it was the best way to cheer you up,” Sage replied as she looked down. “And besides…”
Viper raised an eyebrow at the sudden pause. Sage raised her head back up to meet her girlfriend’s gaze.
“...it was because of it that I got to hear you say it. I’d say it was worth the effort.”
Viper smiled as she pulled Sage closer for another hug.
“Want to go back to the party?” Sage asked after a while.
“Can we… just stay here? For the rest of the night?” Viper asked in response.
Sage’s eyes widened again, but she nodded.
“Anything for you, Sabine.”