Work Text:
Cypher yawned in boredom as he stared at his monitors. It’s been a fairly slow week at the headquarters, since missions have been postponed for another two weeks. It was exciting at first when Brimstone decided to cut down their training schedules to give them a proper break, but now it’s just becoming boring. He decided to check on what Sova was up to—maybe the hunter would be down to join him at the bar or something.
Cypher sifted through the multiple camera feeds he was watching, trying to check what Sova is up to before he goes out to invite him. He finally found the hunter sitting pensively on his balcony, a fond smile playing on Sova’s face at whatever it was he was looking at. Cypher manually overrode the camera’s controls to pan it towards whatever Sova was looking at. Whatever it was, it was too far for this camera to see, so Cypher switched to the feed that will give him a closer look.
Cypher’s brows furrowed in confusion. There’s nothing interesting to see—it was just some of the agents playing frisbee in the courtyard. Yoru and Phoenix were going up against Raze and Killjoy, with a pouting Jett grumbling petulantly at the sidelines. From what he gathered from the audio, it seems the four agents benched the wind girl because she was cheating with the wind. They incessantly teased Jett, who alternated between sticking her tongue out at her friends petulantly, and begging to be let into the game again. It was a funny sight indeed.
There’s something different about Sova’s smile, a voice in Cypher’s head argued. He knew Sova to be one of the more serious agents in the Protocol, and it takes a lot to get his face to betray any emotion. He contemplated hacking into Sova’s eye to see exactly what he’s seeing so captivating, and, as always, his curiosity got the best of him.
So he also finds Jett’s situation funny, Cypher mused, seeing the feed from Sova’s eye focused on the Korean duelist. He was about to disconnect from the feed when a nagging feeling urged him to continue looking. It wasn’t long before Sova’s eye focused on the curve of Jett’s backside, slowly traveling up to admire the way her chest looked fuller when she crossed her arms above her waist, and finally, settling on her lips as she smiled and laughed with her friends. Oh!
Cypher cut off his access to the feed and laughed a hearty one at his latest discovery. I may have found Mr. Tough Guy’s soft spot, he concluded. Knowing what he knew about Sova, he was pretty sure that’s going to be the end of it, him pining silently from afar. He was now thankful to have humored the others to spy on Jett the last time—at least he knows Sova’s feelings are not exactly unrequited. He pulled out his communicator and sent a message to Killjoy.
C: By any chance, would you know what Jett’s plans are for tonight?
K: We’re gonna be drinking and dancing at the bar, why?
C: Who are you with?
K: Will you stop with the Spanish inquisition? Me, Raze, Yoru, Phoenix, Jett. Are you waiting for an invite?
C: No, but I’ll be there regardless. With Sova. *mischievous wink*
K: Oooooh what are you planning?
C: So you can slip up and tell the others? No thanks. You’ll see later.
Cypher and Sova made their way to the bar later that evening. Cypher sat at the main bar facing the dance floor, but Sova excused himself to go to the toilet before they get started. Cypher ordered for the both of them. “Vodka. On the rocks,” Cypher directed at the bartender who was looking at him funnily. He slipped him 20 bucks and said, “Vodka neat for my friend. Make it a double, that guy needs a head start.”
The bartender nodded and turned away to get their drinks. He returned with Cypher’s glass and waited for Sova to return before putting down his. When Sova returned from the loo, he noticed his drink was considerably much more than Cypher’s.
“You’re not planning on getting me plastered this early, are you?” Sova asked apprehensively.
Cypher chuckled. “No, not at all. It’s just rare that we get to go out like this, might as well make the most of it, don’t you think?”
Cypher glanced around, scanning the area, looking for signs of the other agents. It was standard Cypher behavior to be wary of their surroundings so Sova didn’t think much of it. He was surprised to see Cypher waving at someone across the bar, probably on the dance floor.
“Oh, I didn’t know you guys are going to be here too!” Killjoy approached excitedly, stealing a loaded glance at Cypher. Cypher’s robotic blue eyes dimmed slightly in apprehension. Killjoy was laying it on so thick, he was surprised Sova didn’t catch on at all. “We’re at a table over there,” Killjoy pointed to where Phoenix and Yoru were seated, “Feel free to join us! I mean, the table’s currently full but Phoenix and Yoru won’t be staying long. Phoenix is already smashed and Yoru’s taking him home in a while. Anyhoo, Raze wants to dance. See you around!” She scuttled away before the men could react.
“You want to join them?” Cypher asked Sova when Killjoy was out of earshot.
“Nah, I’m fine here. The bar is noisy enough without Raze and Killjoy,” Sova replied.
Cypher realized Sova didn’t figure out that Jett was with them. He will have to point it out eventually or this mission will be bust.
“So, you didn’t have better plans than drinking with me?” Cypher teased. “This is your chance to let loose, ask somebody out for a date, maybe find a one night stand in this crowd.”
Sova scoffed at his friend. “You know I don’t do that.”
Cypher let out a hearty laugh. “Maybe you should,” he said to Sova, “not the one night stand per se. Ask someone out on a date or something. You don’t fancy anyone?”
Sova took a gulp of his drink. “I don’t have time for that.”
“Of course you do,” Cypher countered. “Those four have time,” he said, cocking his head towards Raze and Killjoy on the dance floor, and Yoru trying to settle down a very animatedly drunk Phoenix.
“Regardless, I’m not sure if she—, you know what, no, never mind.”
“Oh, there’s a ‘she’,” Cypher replied excitedly. “Do tell.”
Sova motioned to the bartender for a refill. “I’m not that drunk yet.”
Cypher craned his neck and nodded at Yoru who was waving at him from across the bar. He was leaving, a very drunk Phoenix slung over his shoulder. Raze and Killjoy were heading back to the table, visibly panting after dancing for a few songs.
“I suggest moving to their table, I’ll get the next round,” Cypher told Sova as he finished his glass of vodka. He motioned to the bartender for another glass that he could bring over. “Jett might not like third-wheeling on those two.”
Sova’s head snapped up at Cypher’s words. “Jett?”
“Yes, Jett. She’s here with them. She’s over at the floor dancing with some guy,” Cypher replied, slapping a bill on the table for their drinks.
Sova hurriedly downed his drink and ordered another, discreetly looking over the rim of his glass towards the dance floor to see Jett indeed dancing with one of the other patrons. He quietly stood up and followed Cypher across the bar to the girls’ table, his artificial eye not leaving Jett for a second.
Cypher bantered with Killjoy and Raze, mocking Killjoy’s very girly-looking drink on the table. He offered to buy the next round if they agree to something stronger, which Raze didn’t mind at all. Throughout their banter, the three engineers exchanged meaningful looks, taking turns observing the very quiet Sova sitting with them. They all know he hasn’t taken his eyes off of Jett since they got to the table.
Sova was looking intently at Jett, intense jealousy coursing through his veins. He despised the way her dance partner held her waist, his hands dangerously skimming towards her butt. He hated what he saw, but he couldn’t look away. He was so focused that he didn’t notice the three engineers snickering at him.
“Just ask her already, amigo,” Raze encouraged. “That could be you holding her waist like that.” She wiggled her brows naughtily.
“You better hurry up Cowboy,” Cypher added. “It won’t be long before they start grinding against each other.”
Sova eyed Cypher with murderous contempt, but considered his words regardless. His friend was right—the guy was getting really cozy with Jett and he didn’t like it one bit. He wasn’t sure what to do, however; He didn’t plan on taking action on whatever it was he was feeling for Jett. His eyes bounce from Raze to Killjoy to Cypher, unspoken questions hanging in the air.
“Come on now, Sova. We’d really rather it’s you who takes her home tonight,” Killjoy said. “Because you know, if you take her home, then she’s technically…home,” she mumbled, realizing how dumb her statement sounded. Cypher laughed and ruffled her head, skewing her beanie. Raze took the glass Killjoy was holding, teasing that the German engineer has probably had enough.
Sova took a deep breath and stood up. He gathered his courage and made his way to the dance floor, standing behind Jett’s partner. He tapped the guy’s shoulder, and without taking his eyes off Jett, asked, “May I?”
Jett stole a glance towards their table where Cypher, Killjoy and Raze were all grinning ear to ear and sporting two thumbs up at her. Her eyes bounced back and forth between the two men before her, eventually stopping at Sova’s. “Uh, yeah, sure,” she stuttered shyly, glancing apologetically at her previous partner. The guy graciously nodded and made his way out of the dance floor.
The lights dimmed slightly as the music transitioned to a mellow ballad. Sova took Jett’s hand and placed them on his shoulder as he placed his own on her waist. It was a little awkward, but none of them decided to pull away.
Jett decided to close the awkward distance between them and leaned her head onto Sova’s chest. Sova stiffened for a split second, surprised at the proximity, but immediately wrapped his arms around her waist when he got his bearings back. He leaned down and rested his cheek on Jett’s head as they swayed to the music.
“This is nice,” Jett whispered. “I was kinda hoping you’d ask me to dance.”
Sova smiled against Jett’s hair. “Yes, this is nice,” he agreed, closing his eyes, savoring the moment. He couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that he’s here, with Jett in his arms, dancing. The fact that she admitted that she wanted it too didn’t cease to amaze him. He was so thankful to have agreed coming down here with Cypher. He remembered just how close he was to declining the offer.
Their movements have made it so that Sova was now facing their table. Cypher was standing, and he looked like he was saying his goodbyes to his fellow engineers. He caught Sova’s eyes just before he turned to leave, so he tipped his hat in acknowledgement before finally heading out.
The bastard knew what he was doing, Sova thought to himself, unable to stop a chuckle from slipping out of his lips.
“Something funny?” Jett asked, looking up at Sova nervously.
“Nothing. I— I’m just happy,” Sova replied, tucking a stray wisp of hair behind her ear.
Their eyes met and there was a sudden intensity between them. Jett was not used to this, and felt herself drowning under Sova’s stare. She can’t take the intensity anymore, but she couldn’t look away, either. It’s like Sova’s eyes held her prisoner.
“Joon-Hee, I—“
“Yes, Sova?”
Whatever he wanted to say died in his throat. So he just leaned his head down, and pressed his lips against hers.