Chapter Text
It was dark out, and Scarlett was tired. She was surprised she hadn’t already passed out. Scarlett- everyone -had had a rough day.
From being brought to Snake Eyes’ dojo and put through his training lesson with Jinx, to being knocked unconscious by Storm Shadow and nearly being burned alive.
Scarlett massaged her throat, it was still sore from her reaction to the poison she’d been hit with. Her vocal cords were recovering at least, but she’d wait until tomorrow to try and hold a conversation.
After escaping the fire she and the team had trekked through the rain, sapping the last of her strength.
But what they had gone through was nothing compared to what Snake Eyes had to suffer.
From where she sat, Scarlett turned in her seat to look at the back of the vehicle, she could just see Snake Eyes’ shoulder from where he lay on a cot. Both sympathy and helplessness tore at her chest. Jinx, one of his pupils (how many did he have?) had betrayed him. She had believed Storm Shadow when the hostile ninja had claimed Snake Eyes had murdered the Hard Master-Jinx’s father.
When Scarlett had heard of this it had only taken her a second to decide what she believed: she believed Storm Shadow was a malicious liar. Though she did not have all the context she knew Snake Eyes would never kill someone in cold blood-especially not the man who had taken him in. It was not like Snake Eyes at all. He had honor .
Jinx, apparently, didn’t understand that, despite how long she’s known him. Duke-he would want the full story before giving a straight answer-but he wouldn’t blindly judge. He’d wait for when, or if, they’d have actual evidence.
Scarlett would admit that was fair. At least Duke had officially recognized Snake Eyes as a member of the team. But she couldn’t expect the team to have faith in him like she did, they hadn’t known him as long.
You know, you’re not like his other students , Jinx had told her. I’ve seen how he treats you. How he cares…
Scarlett looked around, Tunnel Rat was across the aisle from her. His face pressed against the glass and drool on his chin as he snored.
Roadblock had his headphones on, eyes closed. Scarlett wasn’t sure if he was asleep considering she could hear his heavy metal musical blasting from said headphones.
Duke was driving, eyes forward and apparently lost in thought.
Quietly Scarlett slipped out of her seat and went to the back of the transport. She was tired and wanted to lay down and stretch out. Well…that was one thing she wanted to do.
She stopped beside Snake Eyes and gazed down at him, moonlight from the windows helping her see.
There were a few tears in his suit, giving her the rare sight of his pale skin. The last time she saw any of his skin was when he got a torso wound on their first mission together. Half of his mouth was exposed, Scarlett had never seen his lips before. She made sure not to look too long.
Instead she watched the slow rise and fall of his chest. She had always seen him as indestructible, she still kind of did. She knew 99% of the time he could take care of himself. But this had been the 1%. He could’ve drowned or been killed from the waterfall. She should’ve been there to protect him. But instead it had been Duke. She could only bandage him up after, which was important as well but she should’ve done more. Well all he did for her he deserved more.
Scarlett breathed through her nose. There was no point fixating on what’s already happened, she could only hope that the next time he needed her, she’d be there.
She looked at the other cot, available on the other side of the transport, then laid on the floor.
It wasn’t exactly comfortable, but she wanted-needed-to be close to Snake eyes, for just a moment. And she definitely wasn’t going to try and fit on the cot with him.
She laid on her back on the cold floor, her bones vibrating as they drove across bumpy backroads. Her hand twitched, and she wanted to talk herself out of her sudden urge. Maybe if she wasn’t so tired she’d have succeeded.
But instead she let her hand reach up to the cot. She found Snake Eyes’ hand and wrapped her fingers around it. His palm was warm but his fingers were cold.
Scarlett closed her eyes, feeling that sense of security she always felt when she was near Snake eyes. She never felt as safe as she did when she was near him. She could get to sleep now-
Snake Eyes’ hand suddenly moved, he was awake.
Face flushed, Scarlett tried to move her hand away, but his own strong grip around her wrist stopped her.
She sat up, hot with embarrassment. “I’m-” she tried to push out an apology through her sore throat. But she stopped when she saw Snake Eyes move closer to the wall, now lying on his side. With his free hand he grabbed her other arm and gently pulled her forward. Scarlett realized he was inviting her to share the cot.
She wanted to tell him there’s no need, but her mouth didn’t move as she silently laid on her side. She was facing him, just a few inches from each other. He released her but his lean arm stayed lying across her hip.
Scarlett stared at his chest, unable to look at his masked face. After a few moments of silence she noted his breathing had slowed, he had gone back to sleep.
Scarlett, with her hands against her own chest, found herself feeling torn. She had the same reassuring sense that she usually had when he was near. But their sudden proximity had unnerved her. His knee jerked in his sleep a bit and brushed against her own, it made the blood flow faster through her body. She was sure her ears were as red as her hair now.
The first and only time they had laid close together like this was out of safety, back on that first mission when she had been delirious from the elements.
I’m getting too worked up , she decided. He probably just knew the whole Storm Shadow and Jinx fiasco had upset her. And even though he was exhausted and wounded he still went out of his way to comfort her.
Jinx’s comments kept spinning through her head:
How he cares….
You’re the flavor of the month.
He will never love you !
Scarlett closed her eyes and let her tiredness turn her mind off. Her life was currently unpredictable and dangerous, she didn’t have the time to obsess over the words said by a misguided teenager.