Photographs

During most missions where communication to VALORANT's base was safe, Cypher would have access to a camera feed from each agent and the jet's perspective that he recorded.

It was useful in cases where there was a mystery they needed solved and the feed may provide information, or if they needed to check back to confirm a detail or fact.

It was not useful in cases where Cypher could blackmail them or tease them with photos like right now.

Neon was ready to run out of the briefing room in embarrassment as Cypher 'accidentally' played a clip he'd for some reason saved of Neon snuggling up in Fade's lap in the jet after a recon mission. They had only done that because Omen was the only other one with them, and he was piloting the jet so they had the privacy.

"Oh, ahem, sorry about that," Cypher said, taking way too long to pause the video. He let it play until Fade leaned down to place a chaste kiss on Neon's head, then paused it and took what felt like an eternity as he kept it open while searching for the right clip.

Neon wished in that moment either one of Brimstone or Sage had stayed behind, as they definitely would have put a stop to Cypher's embarrassing antics.

Unfortunately, they had left Viper and Cypher to brief the agents while they discussed something else. Neon had a small suspicion Cypher had somehow planned this around their absence.

By now, at least five of the agents were quietly laughing, two were saying something about 'how cute they are', and Jett was staring at her so hard Neon had to resist the urge to bury her head in Fade's lap. She didn't even want to turn to look at Fade, afraid that would just cause more commotion. And everyone was already whispering enough to each other.

"Oh dear," Cypher said. "I appear to have forgotten to download that clip. Well, it wasn't too important, anyway. There was a Kingdom logo on one of their vehicles, so we should be wary of their involvement. Thank you all. If Viper has nothing to say, you're dismissed."

"No, nothing," Viper said, sounding as bored as always although Neon knew she was exactly the type to enjoy this sort of awkward torture Cypher had subjected them to.

As soon as the meeting was dismissed, every single agent immediately got up in groups, probably all off to discuss this new bit of tea if their current conversations were any indication.

Neon suspected Cypher had also planned that.

Groaning, Neon finally turned to glance at Fade. The Turk had an all too amused look on her face as she glanced down.

"Don't worry about him," she said.

"That was embarrassing," Neon protested.

"I know," Fade said reassuringly, putting a hand on Neon's back and leading her out of the briefing room. "Don't worry about it. Trust me."

Neon pouted at how unconcerned she was, but followed Fade back to her room.

~~~

Neon was fully expecting more questions regarding her and Fade the next day as she made her way to the dining area. Yesterday, at least seven different agents had bombarded her with questions about when she and Fade got together, what got them so close, and Jett even cheekily asked about sex which had Neon almost zapping her in embarrassment.

So when she entered the dining area, she was completely caught off guard to find the walls covered in photos like an art gallery, complete with little descriptions of the photos. Some of the agents were looking at the photos, most of them laughing, while others were grinning as they ate.

Interest piqued, especially because this was clearly not about her and Fade, Neon properly entered the room and inspected the nearest photo.

It was actually a video, one of Cypher getting comically chased around the training room like some Tom and Jerry video. The being chasing him was Killjoy and Raze's Maxbot, blasting fire at him and sending dark smoke hurtling across the room.

Neon couldn't hold back her laughter as Cypher's hat fell off from a blast of wind Maxbot released, the information broker barely managing to grab it back before he was running again at full speed, coat flapping wildly behind him.

The description wrote:

Cypher vs Maxbot

Catching an unfortunate timing, Cypher runs for his life as he is chased by the much faster, more powerful, and quicker thinking Maxbot.

11th Jan 2022

The next piece was a photo of Cypher, on the floor, messily tangled in his own tripwires as he struggled to get out of them, a smirking Jett standing over him.

Neon still remembered that day, when Cypher had recorded and showed everyone a clip of Jett missing all her knives on a target that wasn't even looking at her. In a fit of rage and to show off how masterful her command of the wind really was, she had found his tripwires and fully tied him up in at least ten of them using only the wind.

This description wrote:

Jett's Vengeance

Perhaps the information broker should keep his secrets and tripwires closer to his heart.

31st July 2021

All around the dining area were several more accidents revolving around Cypher.

Moments where he was caught off guard, his camera being tampered with, Raze spraying a comical graffiti painting of him over his door, everything.

There was only one person Neon knew could be responsible for this.

Checking her usual corner, Neon grinned when she found Fade leaning against the wall and sipping her coffee while watching the others over the rim of her cup.

"This was you, wasn't it?" she asked, delighted and extremely entertained. "Were you already planning this since yesterday? Is that why you were so unconcerned?"

"Shh," was all Fade said, chuckling, although the approving sparkle in her eyes told Neon the answers to her questions were both 'yes'.

"Has Cypher seen this yet?" Neon instead asked. "I want to know his reaction."

Fade smirked.

Whipping a tablet out from seemingly nowhere, Fade gestured with her hand for Neon to get closer.

Inching forwards to look at its screen, Neon couldn't help an incredulous laugh as she saw Cypher in real time, leaning over a screen with his arms crossed to show his displeasure.

A full laugh spilled from Neon as the information broker suddenly whipped around in shock, looking up at the camera Fade had somehow installed in his room.