Work Text:
“For a moment I saw them…”
The information broker woke with a gasp as he looked around, his bewildered gaze met with his fellow agents.
“Christ Cypher, you scared the shit out of us,” Jett exclaimed as she covered her face with her hands in relief, “If it weren’t for Sage you’d be a goner!”
“Goner…” Cypher repeated to himself as he gave a wince in pain, remembering the bullet that hit him right in the chest before everything went dark. They had to defuse the spike…The spike, “Did we complete the mission?!”
Phoenix shook his head, “We barely got out, you were only able to come back in one piece thanks to Sova.”
“Sova?” The Moroccan agent blinked in surprise as he turned to look at the Russian as he averted his gaze, staying silent to the end. Questions filled the agents’ eyes as they seemed ready to bombard Cypher with absurd questions before Sage cleared her throat,
”Despite being healed, it’s best you rest for a bit before you get back on your feet.”
Cypher briefly laughed before wincing in pain, “Yep…Noted.”
“Sova, stay with Cypher so we can get him some food!” Jett called out as she left with the remaining agents, leaving an awkward atmosphere.
The silence felt suffocating, and when there was silence there were thoughts. Those thoughts led to daydreams, and those daydreams led to seeing them. And to see them would make his chest hurt, from something other than the bullet wound. He had to break the tension somehow. He had to speak- fill his mind with words. More words meant he would not have to think. And to not think was good. Constant noise was good.
“I’m surprised you didn’t leave me for dead,” Cypher said with a chuckle, although it ended up becoming a cough. Ah yes, confrontation. Even in a joking manner, the idea of settling a dispute and opening up to each other was distasteful to the Moroccan, but it was the only thing he could think of at the moment. He would rather be annoyed than sorrowful.
Sova’s eyebrows raised as if he were surprised at the absurdity of the joke, “You know, since you neither trust nor like me and…Ah…Nevermind.”
“It’s true, I don’t trust you, however you are still a part of the team.” Yes! As always, the hunter was truthful, readable like a book. The explanation seemed simple enough, it made sense too, however it left the nosy agent unsatisfied. He had to keep the conversation going, he had to keep himself busy.
“Still still, it would have been a perfect opportunity to get rid of all the information I have on everyone, no?”
“You speak as if you would have preferred me to hate you. I simply don’t trust how guarded you are, you refuse to be close to anyone,” Sova said, his accent thickening as his words became angrier, “It is not me who hates you. Rather you who seem to hate everyone else. But that is what you do, isn’t it? You wait for the perfect moment to take advantage of someone and stab them in the back-” He quickly shut his mouth and eyes in annoyance. Not towards Cypher, more to himself for letting him say more than he wanted to. All the words stuck in his chest spilled out before he knew it. He slowly opened his eyes to find the usual chatterbox dead silent.
“Cypher…?” Sova asked, his anger fading as the tone in his voice was replaced with concern.
The information broker clasped his hands together to stop them shaking. His plan was in shambles, he didn’t expect himself to freeze up like this. He was supposed to have the upper hand, to hold a leash on other people’s emotions and thoughts. He had to stop. Keep quiet.
“I don’t stay away from people because I hate them,” Cypher began slowly in an attempt to hide the cracking of his voice, “I am…Scared.”
“Scared?” Sova scoffed, “If anything it is the rest of us who should be scared, you have the secrets of everyone.”
“I am scared of losing those close to me!” The sudden outburst even made Sova jump a little as his eyebrows furrowed in confusion before he seated himself next to the other on the bed.
Cypher buried his face in his hands as his body tensed, all the emotions bottled up poured, “I see them every night, it is as if my mind is taunting me. Even now, I wish Sage had left me dead. Perhaps if I was stronger I would have been able to save them. But I am no Radiant, I hold no power. Secrets. Words. That is the only way I have control. Control of things I do not have answers to.”
Sova had heard the rumors of Cypher’s family that were no longer in this world. He always felt a twinge of sympathy but it was always covered up with doubt. Why would someone with a family act this way, attempting to ruin others with blackmail? He never thought it was true, nor the reason for the agent’s withdrawal from everyone else.
“Comra- Cypher…” Before the mistake could be taken back, the information broker stared back as the hunter’s face started to redden.
“Why, I think that is the closest you’ve ever referred to me as a friend…” His voice held amusement, it was true what everyone else said about the hunter. Despite his heroic exterior, he was definitely the golden retriever of the group.
“I think…You are there…” Sova said. Despite the lack of a smile, Cypher could clearly see the ends of his mouth twitch.
“What benefits do you gain from being a comrade?” The Moroccan asked as he leaned close, or at least, it appeared that way, “Do I get to have more chats like this?”
“I don’t see why that would not be possible.” Sova murmured as he felt tense, preparing for jabs and the typical backhanded compliment from Cypher.
”Hm, well I doubt we will ever have another conversation this…Open.”
”I suppose you are right.”
The two went back to being quiet, however it was different from earlier. What was awkward and tense was replaced with comfort. The agents were comforted by each other’s presence. Hearing each other’s breathing, Cypher’s occasional fidgeting while Sova readjusted his coat every now and then. However a question burned in the hunter’s mind,
”Earlier you said you don’t think you’re strong…”
”I said no such thing.”
“You implied it.”
This shut him up. Sova continued to speak, his voice low as if he only wanted the other to hear, “Do you think you are not strong?”
“Well your stupid drone keeps setting off my trips,” A laugh erupted from Sova as he had to stop what he was about to say next. Cypher didn’t know at the moment, but his heart skipped.
”Strength is not physical, it is also mental. And I admit now you are strong, Cypher.”
“Are you using flattery to lower my guard down hunter?” The information broker asked, if Sova didn’t know any better he would have known he was smirking under the mask.
”I am simply being honest, I…May have been too harsh towards you.”
“Well you don’t need to make up for it. You’re here now.”
It was Sova’s turn to have his heart skip.
“You seem to be in a good mood, did good fortune cross you dear hunter?” Sage asked amused as the other sat across from her at the lunch table.
“Hm?” Sova asked as his attention snapped back to the present, “Ah yes…You could say that.”
“With Cypher?” “Yes…He seemed more open.”
“How rare.”
“Indeed.”
“May I ask what he said?” The healer asked with her chin resting on her hands, her head tilted.
“That is a secret.” Sova said with a smile. A couple of hours ago he would have been horrified at the thought of not being honest, he was the type of person who held his heart on his sleeve. If everyone were truthful then there would be no deception, only full trust between everyone. However his conversation with Cypher made him realize that some secrets are kept for a reason. And that even secrets can be gateways to trust. Cypher trusted him enough to tell him a secret. Sova would keep that trust by keeping a secret. He would not tell Sage what he heard. He would also not tell her the distance that was closed between the two, the way he could see Cypher’s chest rise up and down. The way his leg slightly bounced or how he could portray his emotions with his voice. Those were all for him to know.
Perhaps the information broker wasn’t so bad.