Favor

The day after the mandatory check-up always renders the med bay tranquil.  Sage wouldn’t have it otherwise, as it is the day for her to review the medical files and make her report.  And Sage, being the conscientious person that she is, has finished the said report half an hour ago.  (The agents are in tiptop shape.  Phoenix is surprisingly resolute about feeding them well-balanced, nutritious meals, and Sova is – not surprisingly – steadfast about keeping everyone in shape.)

So, now, Sage has free time in her hands.  Oh, the things she could do during this time!

…is apparently nil.

She sighs.  She has her hobbies, but partaking in any one of them doesn’t appeal to her at the moment.

The healer rests her cheek on her outstretched arm, idly wishing that someone would come in and keep her company, even just for a short time.  After a while, she feels the lull take hold, and she succumbs to a rather deep sleep.

When she wakes up, she feels the warmth of a blanket covering her body and the softness of a mattress cushioning her.  It disorients her, knowing full-well that she fell asleep on her desk and not on one of the beds in the med bay.

She sits up and rubs the sleep off of her eyes, scanning the room as best she could as she does so.  It’s her ears that pick up something.

“She’s unavailable.  Come back tomorrow.”  Sage hears the voice say dismissively.  It’s immediately followed by the sound of the door being closed.  Then it’s quick footsteps, coming closer to where she is – or, more accurately, has been – situated.  One more step and Reyna comes into her line of vision.

“Did you move me here?” the sentinel rasps, having decided to surprise the duelist.  She succeeds, seeing Reyna jolt.

But the Mexican is quick to shrug it off, quick to replace agape mouth into a smirk.  “You’re up!  I trust you had a restful nap?”

Sage just gives her a look, knowing all too well Reyna’s diversionary tactics.

The Mexican grins, impressed by how she got caught.  “I did.  But only because you looked so uncomfortable sleeping in your chair,” she answers, finishing it up with an exaggerated pout.

Sage really shouldn’t find it adorable.  She does.

“Now you answer my question,” she then hears her companion say.

“I did.  Thank you,” she answers in stride.

And then she giggles.

And it stuns Reyna to her core, the heavenly sound of it sending waves upon waves of electricity throughout her body.

“I apologize,” Sage says, still trying to stifle her giggles.  She takes a deep breath in and then releases it slowly to calm herself before continuing, “I just- I just realized that every interaction we have had for the past few days involves me thanking you.”

When the assault to her senses becomes bearable, the tattooed woman remarks with a light, teasing tone, “Relaxed is a good look on you, mi hermosa.  I wish you’d act like that more around me.”

“And I wish you would refrain from teasing me too much,” Sage retorts, tone light.

Reyna pouts again.  Sage wishes she would stop doing that too.

“But if I do, how then would I see your adorable blushing face?” she asks, walking over to the bed.  She takes the nearby chair, twists it, and takes a seat.  She then folds her arms on top of the back-support, thereafter resting her chin over it.

“See?  There you go again,” the healer points out, one eyebrow quirked but small smile still in place.

“You’re getting used to it, though,” Reyna notes.  “And dare I say, you’re liking our banters more because of it.”

The sentinel’s lips curl into a self-satisfied smile, “You will not bait me into saying ‘yes.’  I stand by my sentiment.  You tease me too much.”  She remarks, looking very proud at handling the conversation with Reyna for once.

Her confident demeanor, however, is wiped off by the answering statement, “It really does bother you, doesn’t it?”

Sage has never known, has never seen, such an expression on Reyna before.  The duelist is always so poised, so self-assured – cocky, even.  She’s the Empress.  She gets into people’s faces, enters into their personal bubble, all just to assert her dominance over them.

‘She is not supposed to be vulnerable.’

Yet, she looks the part.  Right now.  In front of Sage.  Sage who’s thinking she’s pulled the final straw.  Sage who doesn’t know what to do.  Sage who’s trying to backtrack at that very moment.

“It- it is not like that.  I just- at times, it is too much.  I can handle it were it not so often.” The sentinel tries to explain.  She hopes what she said will console the other, because if not… Sage doesn’t even want to think about it.

The few seconds it took before Reyna responds feel like eternity to the nerve-wracked, brown-eyed medic.  “So… you’re saying it’s alright as long as I don’t do it too much?” the duelist asks, looking hesitant and crestfallen.

“I-” the healer abruptly pauses, swallowing the lump that has formed in her throat, “yes… I suppose so.”  She answers, steadying her gaze to convey her being resolute.

She sees Reyna smile then.

She sees Reyna smile so broadly and wickedly at her, before the latter’s mouth opens and says, “Baited you~” in singsong voice.

The bastion of China, mountain to her people, and life-giving radiant, decides then and there that she’s going to spill this infuriating woman’s blood on this very pristine floor.

She is so enraged, fuming, incensed, and all the other synonyms of angry, at Reyna that she actually threatens the latter in lightning-fast Chinese, stringing together choice expletives and incorporating them in her outburst.

All the while, Reyna remains on her seat, but is clutching her stomach from laughing unrestrainedly at her companion’s reaction.  She only tries to reel it in after a pillow hits her in the head.  She wipes at the tears that have formed in her eyes, before she leans down to pick up the object that was thrown at her.  She’s still hearing Sage cussing and threatening her in the latter’s native language.

“Now, now, before you get too excited to act on your words,” Reyna starts airily, “I believe I’m owed a favor for saving your life before.  So, please be the dear that you are and defer your astonishingly detailed plan of what to do with me.” The duelist continues, before finishing her proposition with a sultry, “I’ll probably let you do most of those things, by the way.  And I’ll probably even beg.”

The Chinese is baffled, and a little mortified, at the revelation that the Mexican could understand her language.  ‘And what is that bit about “letting me” and “begging”?’  But she’s affronted right now, so she indignantly files those pieces of information for later interrogation.

Instead, she crosses her hands over her chest and spits out, “So are you calling your favor in to spare your life this time?”

“No,” is the even answer.  “Why don’t you spend the night with me?” Reyna asks.

Sage blushes a furious red upon processing the statement.  She splutters.  “I- how could you ask-”

And Reyna, for the second time, laughs freely.  She’s able to control it faster this time, however.  “I meant go out with me, preferably to the town, where we can walk around, see the sights, have dinner…” the duelist clarifies.  Then her lips quirk up again.  “But I’m definitely not opposed to the idea of doing whatever it is you were thinking.  It’s up to you to choose,” she informs the healer, topping it off with a wink.

Sage decides to ignore the last two statements.  She squints her eyes, but her glare is unaffected and still as sharp.  “That is it?  That is the favor you will ask of me?”

Reyna chuckles.  “Of course not, mi hermosa.  It’s just a prelude to it.  I’ll tell you once we’re out there,” she says, as she gets up from her seat.  She bids her farewell before Sage could give an answer.

“Ugh, the audacity in her,” the healer grits through her teeth.

And yet, late that afternoon, Sage finds herself standing by the teleporter to the town.

She is chalking it up to pure morbid curiosity as the reason for her being there waiting for Reyna, who, true to form, is fashionably late just so she could make a grand entrance.

Sage couldn’t care less about that, but she would really appreciate it if they could keep to their time, because, sure, Sage made certain that all her work for the day were finished before heading out – but that’s just the way she is.  What if she hadn’t, though?  Wouldn’t that be very inconvenient?

Suddenly, her vision goes black as she feels a pair of hands over her eyes.  “Guess who?” the lilting voice whispers in her ear.  It makes Sage shiver involuntarily.

But she is still pissed and is definitely not in the mood to play games.  So she doesn’t answer and instead just yanks the hands off of her eyes.  She doesn’t let one hand go, and she wordlessly tugs on it, pulling the other woman into the teleporter with her.

It takes but a second before they’re somewhere else, somewhere rather busy.  “Now we are here in town,” Sage starts, “tell me the favor you would ask of me, so I could get it over with.”

“Fine, fine,” Reyna concedes, her amused expression changing into a bored one.  “I want you to try and enjoy this night with me, even if you have to pretend doing so.”

And when Sage sees the look in Reyna’s eyes, the healer knows that the duelist is faking amusement despite her smirk.  Has she really done it this time?  The sheltering nature of the medic kicks in automatically upon the thought, not at all thinking if her leg is being pulled for the second time.

She takes a deep breath.  “I have been treating you unfairly, when you do not deserve it at all.  You are a very capable agent and an even more dependable teammate,” the sentinel admits, trying to salvage the mood.

Wide purple eyes then snap and lock onto full, brown ones.  They also see an apologetic smile, which assuages their owner’s feelings.

But Reyna is rarely one to voice out such things.  So, instead, she beckons her companion with a tilt of her head.  “Come on, little dove.  We have a lot to explore.”

Sage smiles and follows… only to abruptly stop, a thought finally dawning on her.  “Wait,” she calls out.  Reyna turns back to look at her, brows creased.  “You are not baiting me again, are you?”

She gets a laughter as a preliminary answer.  “Cariño, I think you’re too smart to fall for that trick twice,” the duelist assures before she started walking into the town again.

Sage briefly hesitates.  She thinks of a way to exact payment, just in case, and then jogs forward to catch up to Reyna.

The two take their time to stroll around.  It’s a quaint little town, and they have enough time in their hands as of the moment.

They visit novelty shops, picking up various items and trinkets that they find adorable in the slightest, necessary for work or living, downright frivolous, or just utterly stupid unusual.  They don’t buy any of it, but it’s fun to match up the things they see with what their friends like (or would look like, if Sage’s pronouncement of “Sova would look absolutely dashing in pink-tinted glasses” is anything to go by.  Reyna considers buying those specs as a prank but got afraid that the Russian hunter might actually like them.)

When they eventually get a little tired from all the walking, Reyna leads them to a little hole-in-the-wall that she says she overheard some person or another talk about.  Sage knows it’s not the exact truth, but she also thinks it’s thoughtful and sweet that the duelist took her time to research the area. 

There, they’re served with the town’s local cuisine in what could only be described as humongous servings.  They end up sharing just one dessert because of it.

After their meal, the two leisurely wade their way through to the edge of town, to a place which Reyna mentioned that Sage would not like to miss.  The sentinel gets curious about this.

They come across a brick road and take it.  There are a few benches situated on the sides of the road, where the trees behind them and the grasses underneath them provide a healing atmosphere.

But Reyna walks past those and heads to the flight of stairs at the end of the path.  They climb up.  Upon reaching the top, their eyes are greeted with a small, but well-kept, temple.

Sage’s eyes sparkle.  Before she knows it, she’s already rushing towards the temple.  She stops at about a few paces from the structure.

She turns back to Reyna, hoping to ask if she could be given time to utter even a small prayer.  But when she does, she sees that the latter is already holding out three incense sticks towards her.  The monk takes it with a big smile.  Reyna nods at her before going out back to give Sage some privacy.

It takes some minutes before the sentinel comes back out, which surprises Reyna.  She was sure that the monk would take at least an hour to worship.

Sage seems to read her thoughts and comments, “There was no worship, so I just offered some prayers.”

Reyna nods.  “Do you want to stay a little longer?” she asks, to which Sage shakes her head slowly, her bright expression trying to hide the slight disappointment from the fact that even if she does want to, they simply can’t stay.  So, slowly and relaxedly, they make their trek back.

“It is beautiful here, even at night.  I can only imagine how much more breathtaking it will be when cast in natural morning light,” Sage remarks, serene smile in place as she takes in every detail of the surroundings they are passing through.

“Yes,” Reyna seconds, “which makes it a fitting place to bring someone as beautiful – if not more,” she grins.

“There you go again with the teasing,” the sentinel reminds, but her voice lacks that tone of annoyance it usually has when dealing with such a thing.

“And there you go again with not fulfilling my favor,” is the quick riposte.

“I am having a good time.  Truly,” the healer smiles broadly, eyes crinkling from the action.

“Then just take all the compliments that I’m going to throw at you.  Tomorrow, we’ll be back to you avoiding me.”

“I am not-” Sage stops in her tracks and is about to retort, but she sees Reyna with an eyebrow already raised.  The medic ends up not broaching the topic and just changing course.

“This has been a most wonderful night.  And for that, you have my sincerest gratitude…”

“…but?”

“I am just uncertain if this favor of yours is really for you.”

“Why can’t it be for both of us?”

Sage is stunned by the smooth reply, more so because there wasn’t that hint of playfulness characteristic of Reyna’s statements.

She takes a seat at one of the benches, needing something solid to ground her and bear her weight for her.  Today, as well as the past few days, has been a rollercoaster ride for her emotions.

“Everything alright, little dove?  Do you need me to carry you back home?” comes the inquiry… with that distinctive tone.

It makes something in Sage snap.

“I do not understand,” she whispers.

Reyna’s head tilts to one side.  “Don’t understand what?”

“You!” is the rather loud answer.  “It is an uncertain world we live in – which is why I want- no, need some assurances, wherever I can get them.  But you are adamant on not providing me that, aren't you?”

The outburst shocks the duelist, but her brain, thankfully, quickly rethinks and re-processes everything that has happened, everything it has made her do – up until it locks onto one, singular, base thought, which it then repeats over and over in Reyna’s head: ‘must get.’

So the duelist scoots closer to the medic, who’s still eyeing her gravely, waiting for her to say something.

“Hmm, you’re right.  I’ve been playing this childish game for too long.  Time to grow up and take responsibility,” she says, before grinning mischievously.

And then she pulls Sage by the waist and situates the latter on her lap.  She then meets the sentinel’s lips with her own.  Sage is stunned momentarily, but the feel of soft lips against hers has her returning the kiss in no time.

Emboldened by the response, Reyna darts her tongue out, giving a cursory lick, testing to see if she’d be granted access inside.  She is, and she quickly curls her tongue upward to swipe at the roof of Sage’s mouth upon her entry.  It earns her a whimper, and it spurs her on to explore further, until eventually, her tongue comes into contact with the other woman’s.

The sensation sends a jolt down to Sage’s core.  It’s too much, too powerful, and it makes her abruptly pull back, effectively breaking locked lips.

Sage is dazed.  She feels like her brain is in overdrive and incapable of forming thoughts all at the same time.  But she wills herself to do so – or, at least, to form a somewhat coherent question for Reyna.  Because she has to know.  She has to be sure.  Her sanity hinges on it.

Puffing out quick, shallow breaths, Sage asks, “You- you really have feelings for me?”

“Mi amor,” Reyna starts, angling the sentinel’s face so that they’re looking directly in each other’s eyes, “I despise dense people, so I suggest you stop acting like you are one.”

The healer’s already red face couldn’t hide her discomfiture, as her downcast eyes betray her.  “Apologies,” she mutters softly, clasping the duelist’s hands that are cupping her cheeks.  She runs her thumbs across the hands’ backs, intending to soothe and appease the other woman.

“Accepted.”  Reyna responds, giving Sage a satisfied smile.  “Now, I believe we were making out.”